Freshwater boost to Lake IJssel to tackle rising salinity after power outage
Rijkswaterstaat is increasing freshwater flow into Lake IJssel to combat elevated salinity caused by a recent power outage. This measure affects drinking water supplies and local ecosystems, ensuring safer water for households and agriculture.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Cause | Power outage at Stevinsluizen (March 2026) |
| Impact | Saltwater intrusion from Wadden Sea into Lake IJssel |
| Solution | Adjusting Driel Weir to increase freshwater flow via the IJssel River |
| Monitoring | Salt levels tracked, including at Andijk drinking water intake |
| Location | Driel Weir, Lake IJssel, Den Oever sluices |
| Affected Areas | Drinking water production, agriculture, local ecosystems |
Rijkswaterstaat manages the Netherlands' water systems, including weirs, sluices, and freshwater distribution. This role ensures safe drinking water, flood protection, and ecological balance across the country’s waterways.
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More freshwater to Lake IJssel via the IJssel to reduce salinity
Published on: March 17, 2026, 1:32 PM
Rijkswaterstaat is taking additional measures to further reduce the salinity in Lake IJssel. This will be done by temporarily adjusting the weir management at Driel Weir, allowing more freshwater to flow into Lake IJssel via the IJssel.
At the beginning of March 2026, a power outage at the Stevinsluizen caused saltwater from the Wadden Sea to enter Lake IJssel. Since then, efforts have been underway to drain the saltwater by discharging it at Den Oever during low tide (ebb) in the Wadden Sea. The freshwater from Lake IJssel then reduces the salt concentration (the so-called ‘salt plume’) during the discharge process.
Temporarily reduced water flow at Driel Weir
To accelerate the process, water flow at Driel Weir will temporarily be reduced. This will allow more freshwater to flow into Lake IJssel via the IJssel. This helps lower the salt concentration, and the saltwater is gradually discharged through the sluices at Den Oever.
The Water Management Centre of Rijkswaterstaat is continuously monitoring the development of the salt levels, including the intake for drinking water production at Andijk.
Driel Weir
Driel Weir, together with the Haringvliet locks and the sluices in the Afsluitdijk, plays a key role in the distribution of freshwater in the Netherlands. The weir divides the water entering the country via the Rhine. Some of it flows west via the Nederrijn-Lek and the Waal, while the rest travels via the IJssel to Lake IJssel.