Abstract
This research examined the water dependencies and associated risks in Dutch industries by focusing on three main aspects: the geographical distribution of industrial clusters relative to water sources, water consumption and its economic value across different sectors, and future water stress scenarios with their regional implications. The study uncovered a complex relationship between industrial facility location and water use. It revealed a strong correlation between facilities and nearby water sources, with a tendency for industries to cluster around water sources, peaking at a proximity of about 0–5 km for both surface water and groundwater sources. However, it also pointed out that this relationship is influenced by several other factors including water quality, extraction rights, historical development, and competition for water resources. Additionally, the analysis underlined the importance of considering both water consumption and proximity to water sources to accurately assess dependency. It advocated a more sophisticated approach that moves beyond mere water usage per unit of output to encompass the production complexities that significantly affect water dependency in particular industries. The future projection showed baseline water stress impacts the security of water supply of industries at different magnitude. Particularly, North Brabant and Limburg stood out as particularly vulnerable. These regions hold a significant portion of the studied industrial facilities (21.7 %) and dominate the nation's mineral industry (75 %). The study acknowledged the drawbacks of depending solely on average sectoral data and stresses the urgency for proactive water management strategies. These insights laid a solid groundwork for further research and the implementation of targeted water conservation and sustainable production measures within the Dutch manufacturing sector and beyond as water management issues have global relevance. This study suggested areas for further exploration such as exploring different circular water strategies, industrial symbiosis, leveraging digital technology for optimising water management, and utilising alternative water sources.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 100279 |
Journal | Water Resources and Industry |
Volume | 33 |
Early online date | 8 Jan 2025 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 8 Jan 2025 |
Data Availability Statement
Most sources are open dataFunding
This study was funded by the H2020-AquaSPICE project (EC, CE-SPIRE-07-2020, Horizon 2020). This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon-2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 958396. The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein. The authors extend their sincere gratitude to Roy Tummers from VEMW for his invaluable assistance in organising and facilitating outreach to industry contacts. Special thanks are also due to our colleagues at KWR, including Nienke Koeman-Stein and Frank Oesterholt, for their valuable expertise and insights, which significantly contributed to the quality and depth of this study.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Water Science and Technology