The Ministry of Ecological Transition has released the most recent data. 24 departments are currently on drought alert and have passed the threshold. Are concerned: Ille-et-Vilaine, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Vienne, Vendee, Tarn, Haute-Savoie, Ain, Ardeche, Drome , Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhone, Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Loiret, Yonne, Hautes-Alpes and four departments in New Aquitaine: Deux-Sevres, Charente-Maritime, Charente and Dordogne.
These restrictions have been implemented by the prefectures. Franceinfo reports that 92 prefectural decrees were issued on May 27, not only for farmers but for individuals. It is particularly about limiting non-priority water, by prohibiting washing cars, filling private swimming pools, and watering lawns. During a Thursday, May 26 visit to Loiret farm, Elisabeth Borne assured that “We are taking steps to manage the water resources and prevent the situation becoming unmanageable this year”. . Amelie de Montchalin, Minister of Ecological Transformation, was with her.
Yesterday, faced with drought, I was there yesterday with @Elisabeth_Borne, @MFesneau and farmers. They are the first to witness climate change. For them, for all of us, we act to anticipate, cope, and better share the uses of water for the future pic.twitter.com/nKV57DY9Ei
It didn’t rain much and the first heatwave in France made matters worse. Except for a few isolated storms, rainfall didn’t stop the drought in some areas. This was made worse by the high temperatures that were above average for the season. According to the Weather Channel, the situation will continue to worsen in the weeks ahead due to a northeasterly wind and the return to high pressures. Economic Alternatives was warned by Emma Haziza (hydrologist, president of MayaneLabs), that France is headed towards a drought.
Except for a few rare cases,
