Water use; industry and total private households

Water use; industry and total private households

Waterusers Periods Tap water Total Tap water (mln m3) Tap water Use of drinking water (mln m3) Tap water Use of industrial water (mln m3) Groundwater Total use of groundwater (mln m3) Groundwater Use of groundwater for cooling (mln m3) Groundwater Other use of groundwater (mln m3) Surface water Total use of surface water (mln m3) Surface water Use of salt surface water (mln m3) Surface water Use of fresh surface water (mln m3)
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing 2021* 40.6 40.6 0.0 62.6 0.0 62.6 21.2 21.2 0.0
B Mining and quarrying 2021* 2.4 2.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 32.3 2.7 29.6
15 Manufacture of leather and footwear 2021* 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0
18 Printing and reproduction 2021* 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0
19 Manufacture of coke and petroleum 2021* 20.1 10.2 9.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 498.0 487.1 10.9
29 Manufacture of cars and trailers 2021* 1.3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 1.4 1.4 0.0
33 Repair and installation of machinery 2021* 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0
E Water supply and waste management 2021* 7.1 6.8 0.3 815.2 1.3 813.8 1,247.7 1,246.1 1.6
36 Water collection and distribution 2021* 0.2 0.2 0.0 812.0 0.0 812.0 482.8 482.8 0.0
38 Waste collection and treatment 2021* 5.3 5.0 0.3 3.0 1.3 1.6 764.4 762.8 1.6
G Wholesale and retail trade 2021* 14.0 14.0 0.0 . . . . . .
H Transportation and storage 2021* 4.2 4.2 0.0 . . . . . .
I Accommodation and food serving 2021* 21.0 21.0 0.0 . . . . . .
J Information and communication 2021* 1.0 1.0 0.0 . . . . . .
N Renting and other business support 2021* 1.0 1.0 0.0 . . . . . .
O Public administration and services 2021* 5.7 5.7 0.0 . . . . . .
Q Health and social work activities 2021* 19.1 19.1 0.0 . . . . . .
R Culture, sports and recreation 2021* 16.0 16.0 0.0 . . . . . .
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table presents the water accounts, being part of the environmental accounts compiled by Statistics Netherlands annually. This Water Accounting table includes the (physical) water use by the Dutch economy. A distinction is made between the use of tap water, use and abstraction (withdrawal) of groundwater and of surface water. The water used is allocated to the industries and households. Alternatively, tables selections can be made that show break down by economic activity (including households), by water type and annual use. Values are shown in million cubic meters of water (mln m3).

With tap water, a distinction is made between tap water of drinking water quality and industrial water. Industrial water is tap water with a less quality than drinking water, or sometimes with a better quality, like demineralized water. This industrial water is mainly used by the industry and electricity producers. Groundwater is divided into groundwater for cooling and for other use. Besides, a distinction is made between fresh surface water and seawater. The data are derived from a diverse set of sources, more about those sources can be found in chapter 4.

Data in the environmental accounts directly correspond to the economic data in the national accounts, that allows assessment of the impact of the economic activities of the Netherlands for the use of water taken from the natural environment in quantitative terms. From the water accounts bills, environmental indicators can be derived. As an example the water use intensity for the different types can be determined for the Netherlands as a whole or for the break down by industry.

Data available from: 2003

Status of the figures:
The data for the respective years in the full time series in this table are final and the last three years are provisional. The entire time series from 2003 onwards, if necessary, is to be adjusted to reflect the updated source information.

Changes as of March 22, 2023:
There has been an update of the 2021 figures.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published annually by March. The next publication will be in March 2023.

Description topics

Tap water
Water from the tap of either drinking water quality (drinking water) or lesser quality (industrial water). Tap water is purified or treated groundwater or surface water and transported through a network of pipes.
Total Tap water
Total tap water is the summation of drinking water and industrial water.
Use of drinking water
Drinking water is received and produced by the water supply companies. This is either purified groundwater or surface water being transported through a network of pipes or (tap) water network.
Use of industrial water
Industrial water is of lesser quality than drinking water.
Groundwater
Use of water pumped or otherwise abstracted from underground formations. This may be fresh water, but can also be brackish or salt water.
Total use of groundwater
Use of water pumped or otherwise abstracted from underground formations. This may be fresh water, but can also be brackish or salt water.
Use of groundwater for cooling
Use of abstracted groundwater for cooling purposes.
Other use of groundwater
Use of abstracted groundwater for other than cooling purposes.
Surface water
Use of water abstracted from inland waters such as rivers, lakes, canals (except for groundwater), transitional waters, coastal waters, and, in respect of the chemical status, also should include territorial waters (i.e. the sea).
Total use of surface water
Use of water abstracted from inland waters such as rivers, lakes, canals (except for groundwater), transitional waters, coastal waters, and, in respect of the chemical status, also should include territorial waters (i.e. the sea).
Use of salt surface water
Marine surface water such as the sea.
Use of fresh surface water
Fresh surface water such as rivers and lakes.