• While it believed itself to be spared by drought, Brittany is experiencing one of the driest seasons in its contemporary history.

  • The return of grayer weather and a few rains raises fears of an abandonment of eco-gestures which could weaken the resource.

  • Without effective rain, Côtes-d'Armor could run out of water from the end of October.

    In Ille-et-Vilaine, the same pattern is emerging for the end of December.

We had almost ended up forgetting its noise and its smell, so rare had it become.

Deprived of rain for forty consecutive days this summer, Brittany had taken on unusual toasted hues.

Since the passage of a few storms in August and scattered rains in September, the region often mocked for its weather could think of itself as sheltered from the drought.

Think again, because that is absolutely not the case.

Although the month of September was a little wetter, the water situation in the region remains very fragile.

In the Côtes-d'Armor, a break in the drinking water supply could take place from the end of October.

And in Ille-et-Vilaine, the same threat hangs over the end of December.

For months, the message of reducing water consumption has been hammered home.

Did it work?

"It's hard to say," answer the officials of the joint drinking water management union in Ille-et-Vilaine (SMG).

“But on hot days, we used to see a 25% increase in our production.

I haven't seen such an increase this year”, recognizes Joseph Boivent, president of the union.

In a region known to be watered, does the message have difficulty getting through?

This is what worries the authorities, who fear that citizens will relax their actions when they see the rain falling.

“It's complicated to explain to a Breton that he's going to run out of water.

But what is certain is that if we don't change the way we consume, we will run out of water very quickly,” continues the president of SMG 35,

“The situation remains extremely difficult”

Placed in drought crisis, the department of Ille-et-Vilaine will remain there.

The members of the monitoring committee unanimously approved the maintenance of all the consumption restrictions in force.

Neither the filling of swimming pools, nor the washing of cars (except in stations where the water is recycled), nor the washing of facades is authorised.

“The situation remains extremely difficult and the rain forecast for October will not ensure recharging,” warns Paul-Marie Claudon, the new secretary general of the prefecture.

In Ille-et-Vilaine, 70% of drinking water is collected from the surface, which further weakens the resource.

“We continue to see the level of the dams drop.

And the water tables are still at very, very low levels.”


Without effective rains, the department would be at risk of a supply disruption between the end of December and mid-February, according to specialists.

We should then expect to see firm restrictions apply, in particular to businesses.

“You can't shut off the water like that.

If we empty the pipes, we will have big health problems, ”warns the mixed union.

Concern is growing over the months to face an unprecedented spring drought which could jeopardize the water supply next year.

Efforts must be made now.

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