Restrictions on the use of water have been taken in a dozen departments because of low rainfall and drought, said Thursday several prefectures. In the Indre, an order that comes into effect on Saturday limits the use of water in a dozen communes corresponding to a "crisis situation" in the watershed of two tributaries of the Indre.
Watering and filling prohibited pools
Are prohibited in the Indre the watering of sports fields, lawns, green spaces, flower beds, golf courses, as well as the filling of private pools or washing vehicles, except in the stations equipped with a water recuperator . The watering of the kitchen gardens is also forbidden from 8h to 20h. Regarding irrigation, abstraction of surface water is prohibited, and agricultural irrigation by drilling is limited to certain hours.
"Since June 2018, the Indre is experiencing a drought that continues.Since last year, there is a deficit of more than 35% of rainfall in our department," said the prefecture. "This observation, which comes within the framework of a more global evolution of the climate, which tends towards an average increase of temperatures, is currently resulting in a very low level of rivers and groundwater for the season," he added. she said, adding that "the first thresholds of crisis are already reached, which is very worrying so early upstream of the summer period".
Several departments concerned
The Puy-de-Dôme was also placed on April 12 in situation of drought vigilance, the level of the tablecloths being "relatively low because of a low rate of recharge in the autumn" and the discharges of the main rivers having been below the monthly average in March. "Some municipalities in the department are already experiencing difficulties in drinking water, especially those fed by sources," according to the prefecture.
The department of the Rhone and the metropolis of Lyon were also placed on April 1 in situation of vigilance or drought alert, as well as Isère and Ain. The Creuse was placed in "zone of alert" on April 19th, invoking "a drought exceptional and unpublished at this time of the year", with "flows of the rivers which reach levels comparable to those usually met in July and August ". In Charente-Maritime, two basins were also placed in "spring alert".