After extreme drought, it started raining again today. But especially on the weekend a lot can fall. A good time to collect rainwater, say water boards. A rain barrel is not even necessary. “You can put down buckets, so to speak.”
Today, mainly in the center and north of the country, “showers” occur, says meteorologist Floris Lafeber of Weerplaza to NU.nl.
On Friday, the whole of the Netherlands will have to deal with it. Also then it is mainly small showers. “Don’t expect too much, but they are showers that can get you wet,” Lafeber continues.
From Saturday afternoon, a rain area will move from the west over the country. That goes hand in hand with quite a bit of wetness. Lafeber expects 10 to 20 millimeters of rainfall in total.
The amount of rain differs per place. Lafeber expects at most 15 millimeters in the south. In the wettest places, 25 millimeters can fall. “That’s pretty wet,” says the meteorologist. In a few days, a third of the monthly average can fall, because on average 60 millimeters fall in May.
‘Rain Welcome For Nature’
“This rain is very welcome for nature,” says Lafeber. It has been dry for a very long time. “March was the driest month ever measured and April was also dry,” adds spokeswoman Leanne de Goede of Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier.
The rain that falls in the coming days probably will not directly end the drought. “If 10 or 15 millimeters fall, it only makes the grass wet for a while,” says Erna van Eerden of Waterschap Amstel, Gooi and Vecht. “It only stops being dry when a lot of rain really starts to fall.”
Waterschap Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier has been actively retaining water for a week. Citizens can also do that, says De Goede. The best-known example is of course a rain barrel, but a bucket also works.
“This call applies in principle all year round for all water boards,” says Herald van Gerner of Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta. “If the water is gone, it is gone and you will not get it back.” Therefore, “holding and storing for drier times” is always a good idea.
No drop in the ocean
“I can imagine that it seems like a drop in the ocean, but it is not,” continues Van Gerner. For example, an average rain barrel holds 250 liters. “And if those rain barrels are used throughout the country, it can mean a nice saving of water. Every drop counts.”
“We also say it in wet weather,” adds Niels Godron of Waterschap Noorderzijlvest. “When it is wet, you want the water to be able to infiltrate slowly and not flow into the sewer in one go.”