The prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales did not mention them so as not to stigmatize them. But the drought in the department has reached such levels that sixteen municipalities could be subject to short-term water restrictions if the hydraulic situation does not improve. In this territory bordering Spain, the lack of water is extremely worrying. The month of March is certainly consistent with seasonal rainfall in the Perpignan-Rivesaltes stationbut the cumulative deficit over the last six months in the department (213 mm of rain against an average of 507 mm) is considerable.
Nowhere else in France, between September and February, the precipitations were not so abundant. The deficit on the usual rainfall amounts to 50%, just for the first three months of the year. “It would have to rain regularly for one to two months without stopping to raise the level of the water tables in the Pyrénées-Orientales”, recently explained the hydrogeologist Henri Got, former president of the University of Perpignan, to France Bleu. Rousillon. “If we experience the same summer as last year, we may run out of water in some cities this summer, in the plains or on the coast”.
Villages supplied with drinking water
Since February 5, the municipality d’Orilla has no more drinking water. The residents of this small landlocked town (25 inhabitants) are supplied twice a week by tank trucks. Villefranche-de-Conflent also had to be supplied with water during the winter. Others could be in the short term. As early as February, the prefect placed the entire department on heightened drought alert, the last level before the crisis situation and the heavy restrictions that accompany it.
The consequences for residents and professionals are already numerous. Farmers in particular, whose withdrawals in the Têt are severely limited by a decision of the administrative court, find themselves in a precarious situation. The activity of hundreds of operators is in danger. A position expressed on March 22, during the emergency meeting at the prefecture, by the president of the chamber of agriculture, Fabienne Bonet: “there are and there will be dramatic losses in the farms of the Pyrénées-Orientales “, she warned.
“Anticipate water restrictions this summer”
During this meeting, the prefect Rodrigue Furcy mentioned the crisis plan which should make it possible to limit the damage before the summer. A ten-point action plan that focuses on raising awareness of water savings among everyone. And first steps. Starting with the emergency search and repair of leaks on the 15 low-efficiency drinking water networks, which “would allow two to three million m3 of water savings”, he underlines. But also the launch of a channel vulnerability reduction plan. While some of them are already dry.
These actions, such as thinking about other ways of using or recycling water resources, such as reusing wastewater or desalinating seawater, will not be enough in the short term. It will be necessary “to prepare companies, in particular the most consuming ones, for the consequences of the probable restrictions of access to water”, warns the prefecture. And anticipate the consequences of this drop in the resource for firefighting this summer, with significant tensions due to the expected periods of high heat.
Strong fears over the summer period
This summer period is on everyone’s mind. Tourism, one of the main economic activities of the department, is likely to greatly increase water tensions. And to be himself strongly affected by these restrictions. No measures have been taken in this direction for the moment. But the whole sector fears the transition to a crisis situation.
To escape it, all means are good. Like this procession organized on March 18 in honor of Saint-Gaudérique. The relics of the patron saint of farmers were transported from Saint Jean-Baptiste Cathedral to the Têt, the river that flows through Perpignan. That weekend it rained. Much more than expected. Finally a cloud in a sky that is far too blue.