desalinate the sea to combat the shortage of fresh water

On Groix, it is the solution of last resort which was retained. In the middle of the summer season, to cope with the shortage of fresh water, a seawater desalination plant has just been installed just near the dam, which is almost dry. “This pumping is placed on a raft, so we have a pump which delivers 80 m³ per hour and which allows to feed a tarpaulin which is up there”, explains Sébastien Cherpi, operations manager of SAUR Morbihan. In this green tank, 250 m³ of seawater are stored continuously, before being treated in containers to carry out a reverse osmosis operation. 500 m³ of desalinated water per day to overcome the current critical period and those to come. Because the installation purchased for an amount of 815,000 euros will remain permanently.

To avoid resorting to water cuts, saving actions are a priority here. As with this restaurateur who reduced his consumption by 25%: “We make a maximum of one machine per service. So it’s 20 liters of water instead of 80 or 100 liters.” Same thing at the municipal campsite, where the water shortage is known to all. Of the 80 m³ of water pumped, three quarters will be discharged into the sea with a high concentration of salt. Releases that will be closely monitored.