which departments on alert? The restrictions map

DROUGHT FRANCE. More than sixty departments are affected by drought alerts in France. As a heat episode is looming over the country, the use of water is becoming a critical problem in several regions. We take stock of the restrictions already in force.

[Mis à jour le 10 juillet 2023 à 16h11] Due to the lack of rainfall expected in the first half of July, many prefectures in France have published decrees to institute restrictions on the use of drinking water to prevent any possible crisis. The month of June had however been marked by a level of excess rain over most of the territory, but the results of the winter season are still being felt.

At the beginning of July, 65 departments are affected by water restrictions, 13 of which are in a crisis situation, the highest level of alert. Pyrénées-Orientales, Var, Loire-Atlantique, Vienne, Oise and a large part of the departments of Centre-Val de Loire are in a critical situation while the country has not yet experienced a major episode. of heat wave.

The rains and thunderstorms in June countered the surface drought in places, but were not enough to fill the water table. More than half of groundwater reserves were in deficit during the first days of July according to data fromdrought information. A slight improvement compared to spring, but which will not save the country from drought and water restrictions this summer. However, the Weather Channel indicates that with frequent thunderstorms expected during the season, including in the south-east, “the situation could be a little less critical than last year regarding surface dryness” despite above-normal temperatures for 2°C.

Late rains in France

But, can the rains that have fallen in France since the beginning of May reassure about the future drought? “What happens on the surface does not necessarily have a link with what happens in depth”, explains Serge Zaka, agroclimatologist, interviewed by Le Figaro. Vegetation, emerging from hibernation, essentially captures the spring rains. The abundant rains in May nourished the vegetation, but also strengthened the surface watercourses. They are good news since they will avoid having to draw on groundwater early, but they arrive too late to recharge them. So the drought will once again weigh on the daily lives of a large majority of French departments.

Thursday, May 11, the Pyrénées-Orientales were classified almost entirely at the crisis alert level for drought. In this department, it is now forbidden to carry out non-priority samples, including agricultural ones. In this context of historic drought, those who do not comply with this ban are liable to fines of up to 1,500 euros for individuals and 7,500 euros for companies. Other French departments are affected by restrictions.

As of July 10, 2023, drought alerts concern several French departments. But the vigilance thresholds are multiplying throughout the country. Here are the most affected sectors:

• Aïn : alert (yellow) in the west of the department.
• aisne : alert (yellow) in the north of the department.
• Alpes-Maritimes : heightened alert (orange) in several basins, (yellow) in the rest of the department.
• Ardeche : alert (yellow) in the center of the department.
• Ariege : alert (yellow) on two small northern parts of the department.
• Dawn : alert (yellow) in the west of the department.
• Aude : crisis (red) in the south of the department.
• Aveyron : heightened alert (orange) in the south and alert (yellow) in the north of the department.
• Bouches-du-Rhone : enhanced alert (orange) in the east of the department.
• Charente : heightened alert (orange) in the center and alert (yellow) in the east of the department
• Charente Maritime : alert (yellow) in the center of the department.
• Dear : alert (yellow) in the south-east and south-west of the department.
• Golden Coast : heightened alert (orange) in the south and alert (yellow) in several areas in the center and south of the department.
• Dig : alert (yellow) over a large part of the department.
• Two Sevres : heightened alert (orange) in the north and alert (yellow) in the west of the department.
• Dordogne : crisis (red) in five basins and heightened alert (orange) in 15 areas of the department.
• Doubs : alert (yellow) throughout the department.
• Drome : heightened alert (orange) a southwestern part of the department.
• EUR: alert (yellow) over a large part of the department, heightened alert (orange) in the east.
• Gard : alert (yellow) over a large part of the department.
• Upper Garonne : enhanced alert (orange) on small northwestern parts of the department.
• Gironde : alert (yellow) in the east of the department.
• Haute-Saone: alert (yellow) on the whole department.
• Herault : heightened alert (orange) over most of the department, alert (yellow) in the east and west.
• Indre : heightened alert (orange) in the south and alert (yellow) in the west of the department.
• Indre et Loire : crisis (red) in several basins of the department, heightened alert (orange) in neighboring basins.
• Jura : alert (yellow) on the majority of the department.
• Loir-et-Cher: crisis (red) in the north, heightened alert (orange) and and alert (yellow) elsewhere in the department.
• Loire Atlantique : crisis (red) in the south and alert (yellow) in the north of the department.
• Loiret : crisis (red) in eight areas of the department and some basins on alert.
• Batch : crisis (red) and heightened alert (orange) in two small areas in the west of the department.
• Lot et Garonne : heightened alert (orange) in the north of the department.
• Maine et Loire: alert (yellow) in the south and crisis (red) in a basin to the west of the department.
• Haute Marne : heightened alert in the west of the department.
• Mayenne : heightened alert (orange) in the east of the department.
• Meurthe et Moselle : enhanced alert (orange) throughout the department.
• Meuse : alert (yellow) to the east of the department.
• Moselle : alert (yellow) throughout the department.
• Nievre : heightened alert (orange) on two small parts of the department, alert (yellow) in the center.
• North : alert (yellow) on the eastern half of the department.
• oise : crisis (red) on the eastern half of the department, heightened alert (orange) and yellow elsewhere.
• adorns : alert (yellow) to the east of the department.
• Pyrenees-Atlantiques : alert (yellow) in a basin to the west.
• Eastern Pyrenees : crisis (red) over almost the entire department and heightened alert (orange) in the east.
• Lower Rhine : alert (yellow) in the west of the department.
• Upper Rhine : alert (yellow) in the north of the department.
• Rhone : alert (yellow) on the majority of the department.
• Saone-et-Loire : heightened alert (orange) in the southwest, yellow alert over almost the entire department.
• Sarthe : crisis (red) in the center of the department and several basins on alert.
• Savoy : alert (yellow) on a small part in the north of the department.
• Haute-Savoie : alert (yellow) on the majority of the department.
• Seine et Marne : heightened alert (orange) in a small central part of the department.
• Sum : alert (yellow) in a southern area of ​​the department.
• Var : heightened alert (orange) over almost the entire department, alert (yellow) elsewhere.
• Vaucluse : alert (yellow) in the center of the department.
• Vendee : crisis (red) in the northwest, heightened alert (orange) in the center and alert (yellow) on the rest of the department.
• Vienna : heightened alert (orange) in the north of the department.
• Vosges : alert (yellow) on the majority of the department.
• Yonne: enhanced alert (orange) in the north and alert (young) over a large part of the department.
• Yvelines : heightened alert (orange) in the center of the department
• Territory of Belfort : alert (yellow) throughout the department.
• Essone : alert (yellow) in the north of the department.
• Val de Marne : heightened alert (orange) in the east of the department.
• Val d’Oise : alert (yellow) to the east of the department.

What is the drought map of France?

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. Here is the map as of July 10, 2023.

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

• Vigilance drought (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 three days a week).
• Heightened 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.

A national geological service, the BRGM is the benchmark public establishment in the applications of Earth sciences to manage the resources and risks of the soil and subsoil with a view to sustainable development. Here is their forecast map of the risk of drought on groundwater in 2023.

Individuals have a role to play in limiting drought, in particular through small everyday 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.

If these actions to adopt are good for the planet, they are also good for the bank account, while the bill should increase soon, given the price of water. A larger increase should also weigh on the most consuming households at the top, as Emmanuel Macron announced.