Activities in water extraction and groundwater protection areas

Certain activities are not allowed:

• In a water extraction area, the water company extracts water for use as drinking water. The water extraction area is protected by strict regulations. Only groundwater can be extracted in this protected area. Other activities are not allowed.
• A groundwater (in Dutch) protection area is the area just outside the water extraction area. More activities are permitted in this area than in groundwater extraction areas. Activities that can pollute the soil and the groundwater are not allowed. And the establishment of certain industries in groundwater protection areas is not allowed.
• The area just outside a groundwater protection area is usually a drilling exclusion zone. Drilling and digging deeper than a certain number of metres may be prohibited.

You must comply with the rules set out in the environmental regulation (in Dutch) of the province where you will carry out the activities.

You can find the location of water extraction areas and groundwater protection areas on the Atlas Leefomgeving map (Atlas of the living environment, in Dutch). Blue road signs reading 'waterwingebied' (water extraction area) or 'grondwaterbeschermingsgebied' (groundwater protection area) are used to designate these areas.

Applying for a permit for activities

Do you want to carry out work in water extraction areas, groundwater protection areas, or drilling exclusion zones? In some cases, you may need an environment and planning permit. In other cases, you only have to notify the provincial authority in advance. You can check this with the Omgevingsloket permit check (in Dutch). The Omgevingsloket has information about the rules that apply in your municipality, province, or regional water authority. And you can apply directly for a permit or make a notification.

Online application procedure via Message Box

Message Box has not yet been linked to the Omgevingsloket. This means that you cannot apply for an environment and planning permit or make a notification via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.