Drought is already hitting the country. Almost all of the Pyrénées-Orientales was placed in “drought crisis” this Wednesday, May 10, while other departments are experiencing water restrictions.
Drought is gaining ground in France. As a result, water restrictions are on the rise. According to the government site Propluvia, this Thursday, May 1120 departments are affected by orders limiting the use of water. Seven of them are on “alert”, nine on “enhanced alert” and four “crisis”. 26 others were in a state of “vigilance”.
An interactive map
To understand the severity levels of drought, the Ministry of Ecological Transition details the severity levels of drought and provides a interactive map in order to follow the state of drought in your home.
Map of decrees related to water in France as of May 11, 2023.
- In gray – State of alertness : informing and encouraging individuals and professionals to save water.
- In yellow – State of alert : reduction of withdrawals for agricultural purposes less than 50% (or ban up to three days a week), measures prohibiting the operation of valves, nautical activity, prohibition at certain times of watering gardens, green spaces , golf courses, and wash your car.
- In orange – State of heightened alert : reduction of withdrawals for agricultural purposes greater than or equal to 50% (or ban greater than or equal to 3.5 days per week), greater limitation of withdrawals for watering gardens, green spaces, golf courses and car washing, until certain withdrawals are prohibited.
- In red – State of crisis : cessation of non-priority withdrawals, including for agricultural purposes. Only withdrawals to ensure the exercise of priority uses are authorized (health, civil security, drinking water, sanitation).
The Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture indicated that the drought episode, which began in June 2022, was “the longest and most intense since the start of soil moisture monitoring by Météo-France in 1959”.
For his part, on BFM TV Wednesday, Serge Zaka, doctor in agroclimatology, indicated that the Pyrénées-Orientales were “in line with what is happening in Spain”, especially in Catalonia, where the Rialb reservoir is currently only 5% full.