Objective: to reduce water consumption. The government disclosed on Monday August 21 the names of 12 industrial sites supported by the State to gradually reduce their water withdrawals. A total of 50 sites will be affected, but the identity of the remaining industries has not yet been revealed. Among them are for the moment the TotalEnergies refinery in Donges (Loire-Atlantique), the ArcelorMittal factory in Dunkirk (North) or the dairy cooperative of Isigny-Sainte-Mère (Calvados).
The 50 sites are considered by the government to have the greatest potential for reducing water consumption. Their efforts are part of the Water Plan, launched by Emmanuel Macron in March. This aims to reduce the country’s water withdrawals by at least 10% by 2030. Because if the industry represents “only” 5% of French overall consumption, it was still responsible for the withdrawal. of 2.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2018.
The water withdrawn differs according to the sectors of activity. A part is consumed, and the other part is returned to aquatic environments. The cooling of power plants is very demanding, with 16 billion cubic meters of fresh water withdrawn in 2018, according to statistics from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. But of these 16 billion, more than half are discharged directly into waterways after use. Drinking water represents 5.3 billion cubic meters of withdrawal in 2018, and agriculture 2.9 billion.
On the consumption side, agriculture is the most greedy. Almost all of the water withdrawn is not returned to the rivers. This sector therefore represents 57% of overall French consumption, ahead of drinking water (26%), cooling of power stations (12%) and industry (5%).
Consumption above recommendations
Showers and baths constitute 39% of drinking water consumption. Next come toilets (20%) and laundry (12%). Drinking water is only 1%. In total, each inhabitant consumes an average of 150 liters of water per day. This estimate is well above the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which indicates that only 50 liters of water per day are necessary for a decent life. To enjoy real comfort, 100 liters are sufficient.
At the industrial level, water can be used in different ways. It sometimes participates in the industrial process, but it can also be used to wash and evacuate waste, or to cool installations. For example, 300 to 400 liters of water are needed to make one kilo of sugar, and 35 liters for one kilo of cement, according to CNRS data.