France is dry.
All departments are now affected by the "drought plan", and therefore by more or less severe water restrictions.
To enforce them, numerous checks are spread over the territory.
And since the beginning of the summer, "there have been around 4,000 checks and around 400 procedures", explains to franceinfo Loïc Obled, deputy director general "Police, knowledge, expertise" at the French Office of biodiversity.
“We carried out around 500 controls in May, 2,000 controls last week and we dedicated the week that has just passed to a major national operation of education and control.
We have doubled this figure since we now have 4,000 checks throughout the national territory, ”he explains.
And we must expect an acceleration of these controls given that the weather forecasts maintain a tension on the water resource.
These checks, which differ according to the restrictions imposed on the department, are accompanied by education to raise public awareness of the risks that a drought situation entails.
But they can also lead to a verbalization, in agreement with the prosecution, "when people are a little more recalcitrant", adds Loïc Obled.
The fine can go up to "1,500 euros for the first time and 3,000 euros in the event of a repeat offence", he specifies.
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Valence: The municipality continues to water despite the ban linked to the drought
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Drought: Paris and the inner suburbs under "vigilance", all of mainland France under surveillance
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Drought
Global warming
Heat wave
Record
Police