French environment ministry warns of water shortages

The prefects of France’s 100 départements should not hesitate to swiftly issue orders restricting local water use, given the alarming state of groundwater reserves. Environment Minister Christophe Béchu said this today, according to Reuters. France is experiencing its driest winter since 1959.

“We are sounding the alarm given the situation we are facing, because we are nearing the end of the period when groundwater reserves are usually replenished,” Béchu said.

Weather forecasts suggest it should now rain until 15 March. After that date, the ministry will consult the prefects on how to proceed.

“We are pinning real hopes on the coming days, when rain is forecast across most of France, but not everywhere. We are seriously concerned about the Mediterranean river basins and the Rhône corridor,” Béchu said.

According to the government’s Popluvia website, the départements of Pyrénées-Orientales, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Ain in the south and east of the country currently have yellow or orange drought alerts in force. The départements of Yvelines, west of Paris, and Savoie in the east of the country have activated a low-level preliminary alert.