On Tuesday June 3rd, the University of Twente and De Twentse Golf network hosted an international symposium on dealing with drought and water scarcity. At the event, scientists and practitioners reflected on experiences in Twente and other drought-prone regions to explore how regions are rising to the challenge of drought and water scarcity through innovative research and collaborative initiatives.
The event launched with a reflection on some of the key challenges that regions such as Twente face – in particular restrictions on dwindling water resources - and proposed solutions to this pressing issue. The programme further included researchers who presented the anticipated outcomes of eight projects concerned with drought resilience and ended with a panel discussion on initiatives to improve cooperation between science and practice.
Water as a political issue
As populations grow and economies expand, drought and water scarcity are becoming critical political and distributional issues. According to Prof. Stefan Kuks, competition for water occurs at multiple levels: regional water authorities compete nationally for resources, such as water from the Ijsselmeer, a large freshwater reservoir in the middle of the Netherlands. At the same time, various water users have conflicting water level demands and industries and communities are becoming rivals for drinking water. In Twente, the impacts are widely felt. According to Prof. Kuks, 25 companies have already been denied access to drinking water due to insufficient production capacity.
The issue extends beyond local shortages. In the Twente Canal, maintaining shipping channels entails substantial pumping costs. Without proper water management, halting shipping could lead to an economic loss of approximately €0.5 million per day. While financial institutions are increasingly aware of climate-related risks, many companies still fail to recognize the severity of the issue. Forward-looking strategies, such as setting water management goals for 2050 and 2100, are necessary but often overlooked in everyday politics.
Water Scarcity Beyond Borders
Prof. John Morris from Auburn University reflected on similar water challenges in Alabama. Like the Netherlands, Alabama is a water-rich area with abundant rainfall—twice that of the Netherlands. Prof. Morris observes that water is viewed primarily as an economic resource. Key legal principles such as riparian rights (which grant landowners control over surface and groundwater) and beneficial use (where individuals may consume as much water as they wish, even at the expense of downstream users) shape water access policies.
Being a Land-grant institution, Auburn University provides extension services which are meant to “transform lives through reliable information, practical solutions and meaningful experiences”. Though mainly aimed at agriculture, many of these programs address water scarcity and drought-related concerns in other sectors as well.
Public-Private Collaboration: The Twentse Golf Initiative
Stefan Nijwening, innovation manager at the Vechtstromen Water Authority, presented the Twentse Golf, an innovative collaboration between the public and private sector stakeholders to address water shortages in Twente. With businesses in the region now facing restricted access to drinking water, awareness is growing but communication remains a challenge. To effectively reach broader audiences, alternative messaging approaches—such as describing volumes in relatable terms like swimming pools rather than litres—are being used. The initiative has gained traction, receiving support from Twente’s Economic Board, and interest from other regions looking to adopt a similar approach.
Three challenges
Prof. Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf from the University of Twente provided an overview of the wide range of expertise that can be found across all five UT faculties; varying from modelling, sensors, remote sensing and membrane technology (high tech) to governance, decision support and stakeholder management (human touch). An interfaculty working group addresses drought and water scarcity through the lens of three challenges:
- reducing negative impact by reducing dependence on water or improving drought prediction and response
- improving the use of water resources by improving water availability or adapting land use;
- transformation to a drought-resilient society through transdisciplinary collaboration and improving knowledge for decision-making.
Prof. Vinke-de Kruijf closed by emphasizing a commitment to collaboration beyond faculties, research projects and the region.
From Research to Practice: Bridging the Gap
Various projects were introduced that enhance cooperation between science and water management in practice. Key initiatives include:
- DIWA: Drought Strategies in Water Management: a cross-border project. Besides other knowledge outcomes, the Dutch-German project includes cross-border data collection to address gaps in water resource information.
- Thirsty Cities: Towards drought resilient cities. A recently started project funded by the Dutch National Science Foundation that was developed in close collaboration with stakeholders.
- Game-based approaches for drought resilience in the Eastern Netherlands. A project in which the University of Twente collaborates with the Twentse Golf initiators.
- Castor: Dutch Pleistocene landscapes in the Anthropocene – The project leverages existing trust-based networks to promote collaboration.
- Lumbricus: A research program for a climate-robust soil and water system - like the Castor project it is based on networking for collaboration.
- Wunder: Water Use and Drought Ecohydrological Responses of Agricultural and Nature Ecosystems in the Netherlands. With a focus on sustainable agriculture and food forests, the project fosters close partnerships with stakeholders.
- SpongeWorks: Nature-based solutions for Water Retention and Climate Resilience. The project is implementing large-scale solutions while also organizing localized, stakeholder-engagement activities.
- JCAR-ATRACE: Combining short-term research with long-term partnerships to ensure continuity in three cross-border Dutch, German and Belgian river basins.
Community Engagement and Future Actions
Finally, a panel discussion explored how communities could be more engaged in water conservation efforts. Prof. Megan Heim LaFrombois, also from Auburn University, recommended addressing participation barriers, such as offering childcare for those needing support. Stefan Nijwening added that project leaders at Vechtstromen Water Authority act as public entrepeneurs, ensuring direct engagement with local populations.
A key theme was supporting transition strategies. Dr. Cheryl de Boer, strategic director of UT’s Climate Centre, emphasized the power of storytelling as an effective means of raising awareness. Prof. John Morris highlighted the importance of trusted community champions, while Prof. Megan Heim LaFrombois proposed incorporating fun activities to improve engagement. Researchers were urged to remain humble and reflective, allowing theory to emerge from real-world observations rather than imposing predefined models.
The discussion concluded with broader reflections on meaningful actions. Dialogue and community-building are invaluable for creating lasting change, while politics thrives on divergence and debate. Such discourse should be embraced. Research gains significance only when translated into practical applications. Active participation is crucial, as solutions must be built collaboratively.
