Experts expected it, the trend is confirmed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
The month of July 2022 is indeed “the driest we have had since July 1959”, announces franceinfo Christophe Béchu.
Information already confirmed by Météo-France.
“Only 7.8 mm of water fell.
We have a rainfall deficit of 88% compared to what would have been necessary, ”says the minister.
Without precipitation and with extreme heat that extends over time, the situation is critical.
93 departments out of 96 are on alert and affected by water restrictions, a record, not to mention the fires which have multiplied in many territories.
The Propluvia map summarizing the different alert levels has turned red in a good part of the territory.
In these areas, only water withdrawals for priority uses are authorized.
Harvesting for agricultural purposes is prohibited.
Awareness
Western Europe faced a historic drought in July and two heat waves in barely a month, during which devastating forest fires broke out as in Gironde or now in Greece.
But the summer period is not over, and a new heat wave is expected from Monday in the south of France.
The Gironde has also returned to red alert "forest fires".
"This episode shows that we need awareness, mobilization, the implementation of decisions already taken", further encourages Christophe Béchu.
“We are talking about 13 billion that will be spent over the next five years, in particular to go towards reductions in consumption, the reuse of wastewater, the fight against leaks”, he explains, because “20% of what is produced in our drinking water plants leaks".
“There are solutions, they must be implemented with an intensity, a determination, superior to those of now”, sums up the minister.
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Fires in Gironde: The department returns to red alert "forest fires"
Planet
Drought
Heat wave
Environment
ministry of ecology
Global warming
Christophe Bechu