Drought and water scarcity in Belgium (2026): why your choice of water softener matters now

Belgium has just been through an exceptionally dry period. According to the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI/KMI), 2025 was the driest year recorded in Uccle since 1976, and in summer 2026 Flanders' drought committee raised the alert to code orange. If your home has hard water, that raises a practical question: how do you protect your pipes and appliances from limescale without wasting drinking water in the process? This guide explains what the drought means for your water bill, how hard the water is where you live, and how the two main types of water softener compare.

What is changing in 2026

2025 showed that extreme swings in the weather are no longer the exception. After 2024, the wettest year since records began, Belgium had its second driest spring since 1833. Only 1893 was drier at the Uccle weather station in Brussels. In the Ghent area, barely 12 to 13 mm of rain fell across March and April 2025. Along the coast, in the polders, in northern Antwerp province and in the Campine region, the whole year brought only 50 to 60% of normal rainfall.

The dry trend has continued into 2026. April 2026 was very dry. In July, Flanders moved from drought level 1 (code yellow) to level 2 (code orange). Since 14 July 2026, almost all of West Flanders has been under a ban on pumping water from streams and ditches, and Limburg followed. By mid-August, 83% of monitoring points showed low to extremely low groundwater levels, and salinity was rising along the coast and the Ghent-Terneuzen canal. [[Check the current drought code on integraalwaterbeleid.be and the situation in Wallonia before publishing]]

Tap water supply remains secure, but the authorities are asking everyone to use water as sparingly as possible.

This is not a passing crisis. It is a new reality we need to adapt to.

For your home, adapting comes down to one concrete choice: how do you deal with hard water and limescale?

Local terms you may come across

• Captatieverbod / interdiction de captage: a ban on pumping water from rivers, streams or ditches. It does not affect your tap water.
• Code geel / code oranje: the Flemish drought alert levels (yellow = level 1, orange = level 2).
• Waterfactuur / facture d'eau: your annual water bill, which covers supply as well as sewerage and wastewater treatment.
• Basisverbruik / comforttarief: in Flanders, water above your household's basic allowance is charged at the "comfort" rate, which is double the basic rate.

Three reasons this question is more urgent in 2026

1. Your water bill keeps rising

According to the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), a typical Flemish household (2.3 people, 70 m³ a year) paid €421 in total for water in 2023, up from €266 in 2010. The increases continue: at De Watergroep, the drinking-water part of the bill for an average household rises by €12.49 a year in 2026, to around €252 including VAT. Flemish water companies have submitted tariff plans running to 2030. [[Check approval status with the Flemish Water Regulator]]

Brussels has long had the lowest water prices in the country. In 2022, an average household paid about €343 in Brussels, compared with €398 in Wallonia and €421 in Flanders. Vivaqua, the Brussels water utility, has pushed for an increase from 2026. [[Check the 2026 Vivaqua tariff actually approved by Brugel]]

It is worth knowing that you effectively pay for every cubic metre three times: once for the supply of drinking water, once for sewerage and once for wastewater treatment. Every litre you use unnecessarily costs you more than you might think.

2. Limescale costs you electricity and appliances

A heating element coated in limescale loses efficiency. A commonly cited figure is around 10% extra energy use per millimetre of scale. For an electric water heater using 1,500 to 2,000 kWh a year, that quickly adds up to €50 to €70 a year. Over ten years, that is €500 to €700 of wasted electricity.

On top of that comes wear on your washing machine, dishwasher, water heater and boiler, all of which tend to fail sooner with hard water.

3. EmpCo: new rules for environmental claims from 27 September 2026

From 27 September 2026, Directive (EU) 2024/825, known as EmpCo (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition), applies across the EU. Vague environmental claims such as "eco-friendly", "green" or "natural" will no longer be allowed without solid evidence.

For you as a consumer, this means comparisons between water softeners become more concrete. Instead of general promises, the question becomes measurable facts: how much salt a system uses, how much water it needs for regeneration, and whether it discharges brine into the sewer.

What hard water really costs you (10-year estimate)

Without any treatment, limescale costs a household with hard water roughly the following:

Indicative estimate. Actual costs depend on your water hardness, your consumption and your appliances.

This does not yet include the rising water tariffs themselves, which keep going up regardless of limescale.

Two ways to soften water, two very different impacts

Both systems protect your home from limescale. The difference lies in what they use and discharge along the way.

Salt-based softening (ion exchange)

A resin replaces the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium, so the water becomes genuinely soft. To regenerate the resin, the unit needs regular salt refills and a rinse cycle:

• Each regeneration cycle uses drinking water, often 50 to 80 litres at a time.
• The salty rinse water (brine) is discharged into the sewer and then has to be treated.
• The treated water contains more sodium.

At a time when Belgian authorities are asking everyone to save water, that consumption is worth considering.

CO₂-based softening (SoluCalc)

A small, precisely dosed amount of CO₂ keeps the calcium and magnesium dissolved in the form of bicarbonate. As a result, they form far less hard limescale in your pipes and appliances. In addition, the slightly carbonated water gradually dissolves limescale that has already built up. Your water's hardness value (in °f) does not change: the minerals simply stay in the water. You can read more on our CO₂ technology page.

In practice, this means:

• no salt to buy and carry;
• no regeneration water, because there is no rinse cycle;
• no brine going into the sewer;
• calcium and magnesium stay in your drinking water;
• low maintenance: only the CO₂ cylinder needs replacing periodically, for example through the Comfort Gas Service.

Running costs compared

Indicative figures. The purchase price depends on your situation and installation; you will receive a tailored quote.

Over ten years, the difference comes mainly from what you no longer use: no salt, and no drinking water that you pay for only to flush it away during regeneration.

How hard is the water where you live?

Understanding the units

In Belgium, water hardness is almost always given in French degrees (°f or °fH). One French degree equals 10 mg of calcium carbonate per litre, so 30 °f is the same as 300 mg/l, the unit used by UK water companies. Many appliances, especially German brands, use German degrees (°dH): 1 °dH equals about 1.78 °f. Belgian utilities generally classify water as soft below 15 °f and hard above 30 °f.

Brussels

Brussels is supplied by Vivaqua. Hardness varies noticeably by neighbourhood depending on which reservoir supplies your street. Vivaqua offers an address-based lookup that shows the hardness at your home.

Around Brussels and in Flemish cities

Many international residents live in the municipalities around Brussels, where the water is often hard. Figures from the VMM (median values for 2024):

Categories according to AquaFlanders: soft below 15 °f, moderately hard 15 to 30 °f, hard 30 to 45 °f, very hard above 45 °f. Values can differ between supply zones within the same municipality. Source: VMM, drinking water quality by supply area. [[Check values directly in the VMM 2024 publication]]

Softer water is found mainly in northern Limburg and parts of the Campine region, for example in Pelt (6.6 °f) and Lommel (8.4 °f).

Wallonia

In Wallonia, your supplier is usually SWDE, inBW (Walloon Brabant) or CILE (Liège area). The regional administration (SPW) provides an online map of drinking water quality, including hardness.

A note for tenants and newcomers

• Renting? A whole-house water softener is installed on the main water inlet, so you will need your landlord's permission. A clear comparison of running costs and water savings often helps make the case.
• Just moved in? Check the hardness setting on your dishwasher and washing machine. Many appliances are set at the factory for a different hardness than the water in your area.
• Kettle full of scale after a few weeks? That usually indicates water of at least 20 °f.

What you can do

Step 1: Check your water hardness

Is there limescale in my area?

Depending on your geographical region, water hardness can vary significantly and affect your household appliances and sanitary installations. Use our calculator to check the water hardness in your area.

Calculate

Step 2: Assess your situation. If your water is harder than about 20 to 25 °f, you are probably paying hidden limescale costs every month.

Step 3: Compare systems over 10 years. Don't look only at the purchase price. Also consider:

• water consumption (zero is better);
• salt consumption (zero is better);
• annual maintenance costs;
• the total cost over the system's lifetime.

Step 4: Decide. A salt-free water softener based on CO₂ offers clear advantages in 2026: no salt, no regeneration water and no brine discharge. Still weighing your options? Read Anti-limescale or water softener: which solution to choose in 2026? or work out your own figures with our article How much does limescale actually cost you each year?

Frequently asked questions

Does the pumping ban affect my tap water? No. A pumping ban (captatieverbod) prohibits taking water from rivers, streams and ditches. Your drinking water supply remains secure, although the authorities ask everyone to use water as sparingly as possible.

Is a salt-based softener cheaper to buy? The purchase price depends on the unit and the installation, and SoluCalc works with tailored quotes. What matters most is the cost over ten years. With a salt-based softener, you pay for salt and regeneration water every year. With CO₂, there is only the periodic cylinder refill.

Is CO₂-treated water healthy? Yes. Calcium and magnesium remain in the water, and no sodium is added, unlike with a salt-based softener.

My water is moderately hard (for example 17 °f in Antwerp). Is treatment worthwhile? It depends on your situation. With moderately hard water, limescale shows up mainly where water is heated, such as in your water heater, kettle and coffee machine. The more hot water you use, the greater the benefit. Below 15 °f, treatment is rarely needed.

I rent my home. Can I still install a softener? Yes, but only with your landlord's permission, because the system is installed on the main water inlet. It is worth discussing, since the protection benefits the property's pipes and appliances.

When is the best time to install a water softener? Ideally before your water heater or boiler is due for replacement, so the new unit is protected from day one. There is no bad time, only times when it pays off more.

Conclusion

2025 showed how extremely dry Belgium can become, and 2026 confirms that this reality is here to stay. For your home, now is a good moment to rethink how you deal with hard water.

A salt-free, CO₂-based water softener protects your home from limescale, uses no water for regeneration and discharges no brine. That makes it a better fit for the water reality of 2026.

Do you live in Belgium and have hard water? SoluCalc can help you choose the solution that suits your home and your water hardness. Request free, no-obligation advice.

Sources

• RMI/KMI, 2025 was a very dry and warm year: https://www.meteo.be/nl/info/nieuwsoverzicht/2025-was-een-heel-droog-en-warm-jaar
• VRT NWS, driest March and April since records began: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/05/01/droge-periode-maart-en-april-weinig-neerslag/
• Integraal Waterbeleid, Flemish drought committee: https://www.integraalwaterbeleid.be/nl/overleg/droogtecommissie
• Province of West Flanders, water scarcity and pumping ban: https://www.west-vlaanderen.be/natuur-milieu-en-water/waterbeheer/waterschaarste-water-onttrekken
• Voka, ongoing drought in Flanders: https://www.voka.be/droogte
• VMM, household water bills: https://vmm.vlaanderen.be/feiten-cijfers/water/waterfactuur/waterfactuur-huishoudens
• VMM, drinking water quality by supply area: https://vmm.vlaanderen.be/feiten-cijfers/water/drinkwater/kwaliteit-drinkwater-per-leveringsgebied
• De Watergroep, 2026 tariffs: https://www.dewatergroep.be/nl-be/over-de-watergroep/nieuws/tarieven-2026
• BRUZZ, water bills in Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders: https://www.bruzz.be/actua/economie/waterfactuur-stijgt-2026-wellicht-met-35-euro-maand-2025-07-01
• Vivaqua, water hardness in Brussels: https://www.vivaqua.be/fr/durete-de-leau/
• Directive (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo), EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024L0825