Nina Droff 2:45 p.m., March 07, 2023
Drôme and Ardèche have partially gone on drought alert, joining other departments that have already taken water restriction measures.
The winter did not in fact allow the water tables to be filled, whereas the season is normally crucial for recharging the fresh water reserves.
A historic winter drought hits France, while we are not even in spring.
The filling level of the water tables is worrying and in anticipation of the summer, the prefects are called upon to take orders as quickly as possible to save water.
By the end of the week, twelve departments will be affected by vigilance or alert measures in the face of drought.
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Indeed, in addition to the four departments already concerned, part of Drôme and Ardèche have just been put on heightened drought alert.
The prefects took the first water restriction measures in these departments on Tuesday morning: a ban on washing your car outside professional stations, and a limitation of watering for green spaces and transport.
The prefect of Ardèche also called on the population to reduce their consumption of drinking water as much as possible.
Unprecedented measures at this time of year
Five other departments will also join Savoie in drought vigilance, the stage which precedes the restrictions.
Among these departments, Yvelines, Corrèze and Vaucluse.
Completely new measures for this time of year, which are the consequence of a level of rain that is still too low in the midst of the groundwater recharge period.
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- "It's a disaster": in the north of France, the drought worries scientists
According to the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research, 80% of groundwater in mainland France has levels below normal.
Other restrictions should be announced next week by the Minister for Ecological Transition, who will present his national water sobriety plan.