The municipality of Portiragnes, located between Agde and Béziers (Hérault), has made saving water its priority. “We are located on the Astian aquifer, which is our only water resource“explains Mayor Gwendoline Chaudoir. The city of 3,000 inhabitants welcomes nearly 30,000 tourists in the summer. However, she managed to reduce its water consumption by 30% since 2018.
The city is a very good student in water saving. She also received the “water efficient city” label in 2013.
Stop watering lawns
Portiragnes no longer waters its green spaces for several years. Instead, she mulches to preserve moisture. Only the lawn of the municipal stadium is watered with water from the Bas-Rhône canal, which is not drinkable. “When we clean with the sweeper too, we make sure that it is water from the Bas-Rhône, and not water from the Astienne aquifer”, adds Gwendoline Chaudoir. The plants have been replaced by Mediterranean species, which require little water and heat resistant.
Portiragnes does not stop at these measures. It also has a water network connected to a smartphone application to know in real time any leaks or anomalies, and thus intervene as quickly as possible.
If we take too much from our Astian aquifer and it is in deficit, the populations would no longer have tap water.
All these actions are essential for the municipality. “If we take too much from our Astian aquifer and it is in deficit, the populations would no longer have tap water.“All the more important gestures, as the drought and the heat wave spread over France.”We are very careful about it, we are in a context of global warming, develops Gwendoline Chaudoir. So you have to pay attention to agriculture, domestic use, tourism. It’s all together, around the table, that we manage to find solutions.”
The seaside resort has also set up activities to raise awareness among school children in Portiragnes. “They are our best ambassadors for best practices“, smiles Gwendoline Chaudoir.
If Portiragnes is a very good student in water saving, the city of Sète, too, is adapting to the drought. There too, you will no longer find showers on the beaches. The watering of public green spaces has been halved, while that of the land is currently suspended. The flowerbeds are irrigated drip.