“Only the water tables on the coast of Roussillon, Languedoc, Corsica and southern Alsace are recording levels below normal,” warns the public body responsible for monitoring groundwater reserves.
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The rainy spring will have at least made some people happy. The situation of French groundwater was “very satisfactory” in July and should remain favourable in August overall, writes the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM), in its monthly bulletin published on Wednesday, August 14. These groundwaters represent a very precious resource: in mainland France, they represent nearly two thirds of drinking water consumption and more than a third of that of the agricultural world.
Nationally, water table levels are overwhelmingly above monthly norms in July: 70% are above, 17% are below and 13% are comparable (percentages identical to those in June). Furthermore, 27% of levels are even very high. The situation thus appears much more favourable than that observed last year at the same time: in July 2023, 72% of levels were below monthly norms.
“We have water table levels that are the second highest in thirty years” for a month of July, stressed Violaine Bault, hydrogeologist of the BRGM, during a presentation to the press. Only July 2001 had done better. At the origin of these good results: “A surplus 2023-2024 recharge and strong support from spring rains.”
“Only the water tables on the coast of Roussillon, Languedoc, Corsica and southern Alsace are recording levels below normal”however, warns the organization. The situation is not new, particularly in the Pyrénées-Orientales, which have been deprived of significant rainfall for more than two years. On the Roussillon plain, historical minimums have continued to be beaten since May 2023, specifies Violaine Bault.
In the spring, the government announced a “resilience plan” (more reuse of wastewater, better control of agricultural irrigation, limitation of leaks, etc.) to try to deal with the consequences of this persistent drought in a department with strong agricultural and tourist activity. In the longer term, the authorities are studying the feasibility of extending the Aqua Domitia network, which involves drawing water from the Rhône and transporting it through pipes.