Brussels keeps yellow drought alert as groundwater levels continue to fall

UPDATED 18 AUGUST 2026 — BRUSSELS: The Brussels-Capital Region maintained its yellow drought alert on 5 August after the Regional Drought Cell reviewed falling groundwater levels and persistent dry conditions. According to reporting by 7sur7 and VRT NWS, relayed by Anadolu Agency, the decision keeps Brussels in the vigilance phase while drinking-water supplies remain stable.

The regional cell, which brings together Brussels Environment, water utility Vivaqua, the Port of Brussels and safe.brussels, is asking residents, businesses, sports clubs and public authorities to use tap water carefully. Brussels Environment’s official guidance recommends postponing non-essential activities including washing cars, filling swimming pools, cleaning pavements or terraces and watering lawns and ornamental plants.

Yellow is a warning level rather than a general ban. The City of Brussels says the measures are recommendations intended to reduce avoidable demand; it has not announced household rationing or penalties for the listed uses. Vivaqua nevertheless reported that repeated heatwaves and prolonged drought were placing increasing pressure on available resources, according to the 5 August account carried by Anadolu Agency.

The alert was first activated on 23 July after the Regional Drought Cell assessed rainfall, waterways, groundwater, canal levels, drinking-water production and vegetation-fire danger. Brussels Environment said at the time that watercourses were falling without reaching critical levels, while cyanobacteria were developing in some ponds and threatening aquatic ecosystems. The agency also classified the vegetation-fire danger as very high and reinforced monitoring in regional green spaces.

The Port of Brussels has grouped lock operations and limited recreational navigation to conserve water in the canal, according to Brussels Environment and The Brussels Times. Lighting fires in forests and regional green spaces remains prohibited, as does discarding cigarette ends or other litter there.

The wider Belgian picture remains strained. The Royal Meteorological Institute’s drought index placed conditions across the country between dry and extremely dry in early August, according to the VRT-based report. Brussels is especially connected to conditions beyond its borders because regional planning documents state that almost all of its drinking water comes from Wallonia, with a small share supplied from Flanders.

Authorities will continue reviewing groundwater, rainfall, waterway flows, drinking-water production and fire danger. They have not published a date for lifting the alert, and the next decision will depend on sustained rainfall and recovery in the monitored indicators.