Drought in France: a long-awaited "water plan", in the midst of a challenge to the pension reform

A view of Lake Fourcade near Périgueux completely dried up by the winter drought experienced by the France in 2022-2023. AFP - PHILIPPE LOPEZ

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Emmanuel Macron travels, this Thursday, March 30, in the Hautes-Alpes (south-east of the France). In Savines-le-Lac, on the shores of the artificial lake of Serre-Ponçon, the head of state will present at midday his long-awaited "water plan" announced after a scorching summer 2022 marked by droughts and a dry winter that emptied groundwater. In the midst of protest against the pension reform, the French president is making his first outing outside Paris in two months. But Emmanuel Macron's trip will be express and without contact a priori with the population.

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One speech and then goes. For his return to the field, Emmanuel Macron should not meet French people on his way. No crowd bath or exchanges planned by the Elysee. Extreme caution in the entourage of the head of state where there is fear of a direct confrontation with the opponents of the pension reform. His move was announced at the last moment.

Reduce waste

Facing Lake Serre-Ponçon, the largest freshwater reserve in Western Europe, the head of state wants to give another image. That of a president still able to open other projects, in other words that his five-year term is not at a standstill and that he remains in action for ecology, a popular subject.

After several postponements, it is finally Emmanuel Macron who recovers this "water plan" with a series of measures to reduce waste, streamline relations between elected officials who oversee water management or avoid overconsumption in agriculture. A real subject of tension as shown by the clashes last weekend between gendarmes and demonstrators opposed to the mega-basin of Sainte-Soline in the Deux-Sèvres.

Not sure the president is audible

A plan that had been announced for the end of January 2023 and repeatedly postponed, but not sure that the president is audible in the current context. For La France insoumise (LFI), we have only one expectation: the withdrawal of the text on pensions. "The trip we expect from him is a shift of speeches, if I may say so, of position," says Alexis Corbière. But the essence of the problem, I would say, is not whether he moves or not, the essence of the problem is whether he accepts that he can back down in a project that raises the whole country against him.

On the side of the National Rally, it is estimated that this move will stir up anger. "I think it will be caught up by the news, necessarily," says MP Philippe Schreck. And he will be caught up by, once again, this conjugation, this crossroads of anger and rage that we feel. And water, which is one more restriction, one more deprivation for the French, only adds to this anger.

Make a fresh start

But, for the majority, we must turn the page. Sylvain Maillard, Renaissance MP: "It's always good when the President of the Republic goes on the ground. I think the French want to see and sometimes ask questions to the President of the Republic as well." Except that the head of state has not planned to meet the French: the Élysée only announces a speech in the presence of two other ministers.

►Also listen: Drought: concern over water management in south-east France

In Chartres, the difficult hunt for drinking water leaks

Presidential announcements are expected in particular to fight against leaks in the drinking water network, writes our special envoy in Chartres, Lucile Gimberg. Every year, nearly one billion cubic meters are lost in France, mainly because of the poor condition of the pipes. This is one liter in five and the equivalent of the annual consumption of 18 million French. Leaks of drinking water are a challenge for municipalities.

Red dots on Jean Bouazdi's screen. So many possible leaks on the drinking network of Chartres. 150 acoustic sensors have been installed on the pipes of the agglomeration and, during the night, they record abnormal water noises: "A slight hiss, so it is that there is something ...

This slight whistling sound was detected at the beginning of the rue du 17-Août. The technician leaves to inspect on site. By placing this bell-shaped device on the pavement, he listens to what is happening one meter underground: "On the dial, if you will, there are small VUmeters. From 20, 25 decibels, I start to worry a little." Nothing serious this time, but the system has proven itself. The city has reduced its water losses to 10% in a few years.

Hunting for leaks and repairing is more difficult for rural communities. And renovating the pipes is almost impossible for them. Alain Bellamy, mayor of the village of Clévilliers, located 16 km from Chartres: "The renewal of old pipes is easier to amortize in urban areas because you have many more subscribers who are connected to this pipeline. In rural areas, some areas, you have a 4 km pipeline that will supply 3, 4 farms, it's almost infeasible." Obsolete pipes, fragile soils... Some municipalities now lose up to 60% of the water that passes through their network.

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Read on on the same topics:

• Emmanuel Macron
• Water
• Environment
• Climate
• Climate change
• Natural disasters