After an exceptionally dry June and with no rainfall in sight, water companies are renewing their pleas for everyone to be economical with their use of water, but there is no impending water shortage.

The Dutch weather service KNMI said June was one of the 10 driest since records were kept in 1906, the Volkskrant reported. Only 29mm of rain fell at De Bilt station compared to an average for June of 68mm. And this was combined with high temperatures and lots of sunny windy days leading to low humidity.

Water consumption last month rose by 40% above the normal 119 litres per person per day, according to the Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland which serves Amsterdam.

But sector organisation Vewin said there was no prospect of an imminent water shortage. There is sufficient water to last through several more weeks of dry weather. ‘The holding tanks are full.’

Long dry periods are rare in the Netherlands because it is in an area with a lot of surface water, the KNMI explained. Roughly 60% of the country’s drinking water is pumped out of the ground, while the remainder is supplied by the IJsselmeer and the Rhine and Maas rivers.

However, Vewin is calling on people to limit their use of water between 7am and 9am and from 6pm to 10pm so that water pressure is maintained. Brown tap water indicates pressure is low, the company explained.