15% increased water consumption in July

The water management and distribution company, Vivaqua, has informed of an exceptional consumption of running water. 

High temperatures are the main cause of this over consumption of running water in Brussels. “Besides the fact that Brussels’ inhabitants drink more water, they take more showers, do more laundry because they sweat more. We also water the garden more often. It is related to hygiene and hydration in the broad sense,” explained Vivaqua’s operations director to newspaper La Dernière Heure.

During the month of July, water consumption has tended to drop down given that children are on holiday and businesses run at a slower pace, but this is not the case this summer.  “Since July 1st, until the end of this week, the consumption of tap water has increased by 15% compared to the same period last year,” said Vivaqua’s director on DH.

For now there is no immediate risk of shortage

However, last week, the Brussels Minister of Environment and Energy, Céline Fremault (cdH), asked Brussels’ residents to use drinking water more sparingly.

Brussels, unlike Flanders and Wallonia, uses little water for irrigation.

In the parks, Bruxelles Environnement favors the watering of the oldest and rarest trees. Young plants and trees may therefore be lost.