After July ended with levels at noticeably low levels, Wallonia has now seen its water levels replenished thanks to the rainfall recorded in recent weeks, the region's drought expertise unit said on Thursday.
Since the unit last met on 27 July there has been abundant rainfall throughout Wallonia, with the east and south being particularly affected. The areas that have received the least rainfall are in the north-west, mainly in the provinces of Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
The maximum rainfall was recorded at Croix-Scaille, in the upstream Meuse basin, with 227.6 mm of rain. The minimum was recorded at Mouscron, in the Escaut-Lys basin, with 50.4 mm. On the surface, the reservoirs benefited greatly from the rainfall, and the authorities have observed a significant rise in lake levels.
Reserves are now comfortable, as are river flows. Underground, surface water levels have risen slightly and are sometimes higher than in previous dry years. On a broader time scale, however, piezometric levels are still falling slowly.
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In Flanders, the equivalent authority also recorded a rise in groundwater levels throughout the region in July, with normal to very high levels for the period recorded at 79% of monitoring sites.
Wallonia's regional crisis centre is continuing to monitor the situation and will convene the drought expertise unit for a further update on 30 August. The situation could deteriorate again with the possible return to more summer-like weather, warn the authorities.
