How does waterlogging impact us?

Prolonged or severe precipitation can cause trouble or damage to society. For example, roads can become impassable due to water in the streets. Water in the streets can also cause health risks, if polluted water ends up in the streets due to sewer overloading. For agriculture, excessive precipitation may cause damage to crops. There can also be damage to greenhouses or stables, as a result of hail storms. In addition, wetter summers increase the risk of diseases and pests. Furthermore, various types of infrastructure may be damaged, which could, for instance, bring food transport to a halt.  On the other hand, increasing precipitation may also open up opportunities, for example, for wet nature.

The image above shows the conceptual diagram “It is becoming wetter” (pdf, 888 kB) of the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). The conceptual diagram provides an overview of how increased precipitation may affect the various sectors.