Belgium Declares Code Orange Drought Alert for Flanders
Belgium’s Flemish region has been placed under code orange drought alert, the second-highest warning level, as the Drought Committee convened for its first meeting of 2026 and declared a “phase of effective water scarcity” (fase van effectieve waterschaarste). While drinking water supplies remain secure for now, targeted restrictions have been imposed on agriculture and inland shipping.
Context: A Worsening Dry Spell
After a relatively wet June, Belgium has experienced persistent dry conditions since mid-June, with little to no rainfall and high temperatures driving evaporation. According to VRT NWS, approximately 70% of groundwater measurement points now show low to very low levels for this time of year. River discharge rates have fallen significantly, and the number of locations with problematic levels of toxic blue-green algae has increased sharply.
In coastal areas, salinization — rising salt content in the IJzer river and West Flanders canals — is becoming a growing concern due to the drought.
What Code Orange Means
Flanders operates a tiered drought management system. Code orange indicates “effective water scarcity” and triggers active coordination by the Drought Committee, which includes governors, drinking water and wastewater experts, municipal representatives, and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).
Katrien Smet, spokesperson for the Drought Committee, explained the rationale: “By scaling up to code orange, we can better coordinate measures and help prevent further damage.”
Notably, this year’s escalation comes significantly earlier than in 2025, when code orange was declared on August 28. The earlier onset signals worsening drought conditions.
Targeted Measures: Agriculture and Shipping Affected
No major restrictions have been imposed on households — there are no bans on car washing, garden sprinkling, or pool filling for the general public. However, specific sectors face new constraints:
Agriculture: Pumping bans on non-navigable waterways have been expanded, affecting farmers who rely on surface water for irrigation. As a compensatory measure, farmers will have easier access to treated wastewater from the food industry.
Shipping: Vessels on navigable waterways must now use locks in groups, causing longer waiting times. Some ships face reduced cargo loads due to lower water depth. These measures particularly affect the Albert Canal and Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, key arteries for inland waterway transport.
Drinking Water: “Code Yellow” for Now
For drinking water supply, the alert level remains at code yellow — meaning supply is not threatened, but conservation is urged. Flemish Minister of Environment Jo Brouns (CD&V) sought to reassure the public, stating that “the Flemish water companies are better armed against prolonged drought today than a few years ago,” citing increased capacity, additional connections between drinking water networks, and alternative water sources.
However, Brouns also issued a strong appeal for voluntary conservation, as reported by HLN: “Be economical with water in the coming days and weeks: sprinkling the garden or washing the car with drinking water is the kind of waste we must avoid now, so don’t do it.”
Climate Context and Outlook
Climate scientist Inne Vanderkelen of KU Leuven and KMI noted that “since mid-June it has been very dry and little precipitation is expected in the coming days,” adding that “it’s the combination of little precipitation and high evaporation that causes soils to dry out faster.”
David Dehenauw, Head of Weather Forecasting at KMI, indicated that little to no rainfall is expected until at least the last weekend of July, with only isolated thunderstorms possible. The coastal region of West Flanders has been particularly affected — VRT NWS reported that Bredene, Oostende, and Blankenberge are the driest locations in the country, having received only one-third of their normal annual rainfall.
What’s Next
The Drought Committee will continue monitoring conditions on a weekly basis. If the dry spell persists without significant rainfall, further restrictions — including household water use bans — could be imposed. The next critical assessment point is early August 2026, when the VMM releases its monthly groundwater status report.
The earlier-than-usual declaration of code orange raises questions about whether 2026 will surpass the severity of previous drought years, including 2022 and 2025, and what the long-term economic impact on agriculture and inland shipping will be.