A daytime ban on using surface water will take effect Friday in an area roughly between Amsterdam, Hilversum and Nieuwkoop due to persistent drought, water authority Amstel, Gooi and Vecht said. Between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., residents and businesses will not be allowed to draw water from ditches, rivers, lakes or canals to irrigate sports fields, gardens or pastures. The Rhine’s flow rate has dropped to 615 cubic meters per second, the lowest level ever recorded, Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) said in its weekly drought monitor.