in the summer of 2023, “we will again have municipalities that will run out of water”, warns Christophe Béchu

Drought hits much of the country. What is the state of play, is the situation worse than last year? “Unfortunately yes. […] We had a fairly rainy month of March which re-wet the soil. The problem is that we did not have enough water to recharge the water tables. A year ago, at 1^er April 2022, we had 58% of groundwater tables that were below their usual average. At 1^er April of this year, it’s 75%”explains Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, guest of the “4 Truths” of France 2, Friday April 21.

“We have 40 departments in which there is vigilance or alerts”

Are there local disparities? “In the Rhone corridor, in the Mediterranean rim, we are already in a situation which corresponds to the end of June. We have, in these places, levels which are so low that we already have decrees of alert, heightened alert or crisis that are taken. We have 40 departments in which there is vigilance or alerts”details The Minister.

What should be done in this situation? “Next week, I will meet again with the drought anticipation committee on April 27 to take stock with the prefects and continue to see if there is no reason to harden in a certain number of places the arrested , continue to restrict the use of water to preserve the resource”says Christophe Béchu.

And for the summer of 2023? “Given the level of the groundwater, the rainfall deficit, we will again have municipalities that will run out of water”nevertheless warns the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. “We have to tell ourselves that we stop thinking that we will have water forever, all the time and for everyone”he concludes.