The hague: The Netherlands officially declared a water shortage on Thursday after weeks of persistent drought, prompting authorities to raise the national drought response level, Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management elevated the response to Level 2 following advice from the National Water Distribution Coordination Committee. This decision comes as the shortage is expected to persist in the coming weeks.

Under the new measures, priority will be given to protecting flood defenses and drought-sensitive dikes, followed by ensuring the availability of drinking water supplies and maintaining energy production.

Regional authorities are tasked with deciding if additional restrictions are needed, with Limburg already implementing limits on the use of surface water for purposes such as farmland irrigation.

Rijkswaterstaat, the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, has stated that there is no immediate risk to public drinking water supplies. However, the agency has urged citizens to use water responsibly during this dry period.

The inflow of river water into the Netherlands has dropped to its lowest level since 1976 at Lobith. The National Water Distribution Coordination Committee highlighted that the current shortage is more severe than usual and warned that the risk of drought has been exacerbated over recent decades due to climate change.

The Netherlands last raised its drought response to Level 2 in August 2022, with the highest alert level, Level 3, last declared in 2003.