Drought: use of water restricted until December 1 in the Bouches-du-Rhône

Europe 1 with AFP 6:24 p.m., October 17, 2022

The measures to restrict the use of water hitting the Bouches-du-Rhône since the spring have been extended until December 1 due to a "low level of resources" still "worrying" in the face of a drought which "continues “, announced Monday the prefecture of the department located in Marseille.

"After a very dry month of July and a rainfall deficit for several months, some storms and intense rainfall took place in mid-August and during September", but "these occasional rainfall did not allow a significant recharge of water resources of the department", specifies the prefecture in its press release.

"This summer was the second hottest measured after that of 2003", she also recalls.

74 municipalities still on "enhanced alert"

The whole of the department therefore remains subject to a situation of "vigilance", while 74 municipalities, located upstream and downstream of the Arc, in the Crau plain and around the Durance, are still on "enhanced alert ".

In these municipalities, the watering of green spaces is only possible for trees and shrubs from 8 p.m. underground of the department".

For vegetable gardens, watering is authorized from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

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Reduced watering of sports grounds is only authorized for communities from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., while washing vehicles, including at service stations, is prohibited.

Farmers can only water from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and reduce their withdrawals by 40%.

Prohibition of withdrawals from rivers or aquifers

For the 43 municipalities concerned by a simple "state of alert" (to which the Touloubre upstream sector was added on October 3), in particular on the east and west coasts of Marseille, watering is prohibited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as filling swimming pools or washing vehicles at a private home.

Finally, 19 municipalities located upstream and downstream of the Huveaune as well as in the Réal de Jouques basin are still placed in the most severe "state of crisis".

"The 'drought crisis' stage aims to ban all withdrawals from rivers or groundwater in the municipalities concerned, with the exception of priority uses (agriculture and drinking water manager in particular)", details the prefecture.

It is therefore only possible to water trees, shrubs and vegetable gardens from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. using "external resources from the Durance and Verdon" (known as "controlled").

Farmers can only irrigate using localized water-saving systems or a controlled resource.

The Bouches-du-Rhône department was placed for the first time this year in a state of "drought vigilance" on April 1.