The Provincial-Executive of Flevoland, in the Netherlands, have extended the allowance for dumping brine in the ground by pepper grower Hoogweg Luttelgeest until June 30, 2020. This relates to the dumping of brine originating from reverse osmosis, in which groundwater is purified in order to be used as irrigation water. The grower is now allowed to dump the wastewater, which contains a high amount of salt, for at least the upcoming year.
The dumping of brine in the ground is actually prohibited in accordance with the Environmental Activities Decree. The province of Flevoland, together with those involved in the cultivation sector of Luttelgeest, is researching possibilities for a more sustainable supply of irrigation water. This requires more time than originally anticipated, which is why the Provincial-Executive decided to allow for the dumping of brine in the grounds of Hoogweg Luttelgeest under conditions until the 30th of June, 2020.
Source: Province of Flevoland