Activities in water extraction and groundwater protection areas
Do you want to carry out activities in water extraction areas, groundwater protection areas, or drilling exclusion zones? These areas are protected. You may have to apply for an environment and planning permit from or make a notification to the province.
Find out more or arrange now
at your municipality, province, or water authority
What is not allowed in and around a water extraction area?
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.Â
A groundwater 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. This is to protect the deeper groundwater, as this is used for drinking water.
Environmental regulations and locations
You must comply with the rules set out in the environmental regulation of the province where you will carry out the activities (in Dutch).
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. Go to the Environment and Planning Portal (Omgevingsloket, in Dutch) to check if you need an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning). Or if you need to file a notification. Use the permit check to find out which rules from your municipality, province, or regional water authority, apply to your situation (in Dutch).