Drought in France 2022: already 24 departments on alert, what water restrictions?

DROUGHT. Is France heading for a historic drought? 24 departments have already crossed the alert threshold, and many water restrictions have been put in place, such as washing your car. Are you concerned? Here is the map and all the information you need to know.

[Mis à jour le 30 mai 2022 à 10h05] The drought continues to progress in metropolitan France. At the end of May, 24 departments were already concerned with several areas placed on alert by the Ministry of Ecological Transition with concrete measures put in place to limit water consumption for individuals, businesses and communities. Even if you are not yet concerned, do not hesitate to take the right steps to limit your water consumption.

While water bans or restrictions are being put in place in many areas, farmers and breeders are worried, especially that the situation is not expected to improve in the weeks and months to come. The head of government Elisabeth Borne went to Loiret last Thursday, to a farm in Sandillon, to meet farmers and take stock of the situation. She was accompanied by the Minister for Ecological Transition, Amélie de Montchalin and the Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Marc Fesneaud. She assured farmers that her “government is determined to act to prevent this situation from deteriorating”. What are the measures planned by the Prime Minister to support the agricultural sector in the face of this record drought?

• As of today, Monday 30 May, a counter allowing exceptional assistance for breeders will be set up. “I am thinking first of all of the breeders who may have difficulties with animal feed. They can benefit from the exceptional aid put in place following the war in Ukraine: 400 million euros are planned for this purpose. and the counter for setting up this aid will open on Monday”, explains Elisabeth Borne during her visit to Loiret.
• “In addition, wherever it is justified, we will activate the agricultural calamity system for fodder this year,” added the Prime Minister.
• The continuation of the crop insurance reform is planned in order to better protect farmers. In the event of drought “I asked to take the necessary texts so that the new device applies from January 1, 2023. It is a device which will be able to protect all farmers and which will protect them better”, details the chief. of the government.

Which departments are on drought alert 2022? The list

Still new departments are affected by drought vigilance. As of May 30, 24 departments therefore have areas that are on alert and are affected by a prefectural decree limiting certain uses of water. 91 orders are in progress. Please note that only certain areas may be affected by these prefectural decrees and not all of them have the same scope. While some areas are on alert (i.e. level 1), others have been placed on alert (level 2), on heightened alert (level 3) or even in crisis (level 4).

• Aïn
• Alpes-Maritimes
• Alpes de Haute Provence
• Ardeche
• Bouches du Rhone
• Charente
• Charente Maritime
• Two Sevres
• Dordogne
• Drome
• Haute-Savoie
• Ille et Vilaine
• Indre
• Loire Atlantique
• Loiret
• Maine et Loire
• Mayenne
• Morbihan
• Sarthe
• Tarn
• Var
• Vaucluse
• Vendee
• Vienna

Propluvia is the institute of the Ministry of Ecological Transition responsible for monitoring water levels and the internet platform that allows direct consultation of water restriction orders. The site includes a scalable map to view the areas affected by these prefectural decrees.

While 24 departments are currently subject to water restriction measures, a new drought is feared for this summer in France. The Ministry of Ecology has published a map on this subject, presenting the risks of drought in France for the coming months.

What are the different drought alert levels? What are the restrictions?

There are four main levels of drought vigilance and all of them result in the implementation of specific measures.

• Drought vigilance (level 1): informing and encouraging individuals and professionals to save water.
• Alert (level 2): ​​measures prohibiting the operation of valves, nautical activity, prohibition at certain times of watering gardens, green spaces, golf courses or washing one’s car. For farmers, reduction of levies for agricultural purposes below 50% (or ban up to 3 days a week).
• Reinforced alert (level 3): stronger limitation of withdrawals for watering gardens, green spaces, golf courses, car washing, etc., until certain withdrawals are prohibited. For farmers, reduction of levies for agricultural purposes greater than or equal to 50% (or ban greater than or equal to 3.5 days per week).
• Crisis (level 4): cessation of non-priority withdrawals, including withdrawals for agricultural purposes. Only withdrawals to ensure the exercise of priority uses are authorized. They concern sectors such as health, civil security, drinking water and sanitation.

What are the small gestures that can help limit dryness?

Individuals have a role to play in limiting drought, in particular through small daily gestures summarized by the website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition:

• Avoid letting the water run
• Limit the watering of my garden,
• Install water-saving equipment,
• Take a shower instead of a bath
• Install a rainwater collector or containers under the gutter downspouts and in the garden to water it,
• Repair water leaks,
• Avoid running your washing machine or dishwasher half empty.