On the other streams and rivers, recreational and commercial navigation is increasingly confronted with very low flows.
The Meuse, for example, reached extremely low values, comparable to those recorded in 1976. For example, in Haute Meuse, at Tailfer, we are very far from the 1400 m3/second of last year which flowed following the high July rainfall. The flow is now 19 m3/second, barely more than the lowest record of 18 m3/second. And once more, it is because the Chooz nuclear power plant, upstream, is shut down that the flow is not lower. The current low flow does not prevent Vivaqua from pumping 5 to 6% to supply Brussels, but these pumpings to Brussels must be capped at 120,000 m3 per day. Currently, due to the lower activity in Brussels, 90,000 m3 per day is sufficient.
The low flows on the rivers are worrying. The low water level (the lowest level of the river) is very important for this time of year when it should not have been reached until September.
Thus, in upper Sambre, the draft had to be reduced. It’s regarding boating. Still on the Sambre, “The Plate Taille dam (Eau d’heure) releases up to 750 liters of water per second to support the beginning of the Sambre and guarantee navigation”explains Nicolas Yernaux, from the Crisis Center.
This means that for navigation, the regrouping of boats at the locks remains appropriate on the entire network, with the exception of the Scheldt, the Dender and the Hainaut canals.
Certain rivers such as the Ourthe, the Vesdre, the Lesse or the Amblève are experiencing historically low flows.
The situation of non-navigable waterways is also problematic. The Drought Expertise Unit recalls that it is important not to build dams retaining water in waterways.