the Canal du Midi still closed due to lack of water

Navigation should have resumed three weeks ago on a portion of the Canal du Midi in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), but there is no boat in sight. The water level is far too low for the season. Every morning, an agent observes this by carrying out his readings. The coast is 30 cm below the normal level. “There is a lot of water shortage and that is problematic, because inevitably there is less depth in the canal, and therefore more chance that the barges will hit and be blocked”explains Joël Tant, team leader for the navigable waterways of France.

Water restoration delayed for a month

A few days ago, some parts of the canal were completely emptied for maintenance work. But the replenishment was delayed by a month compared to usual due to the drought. Are boating and pleasure tourism threatened? It is still too early to tell, but the authorities are closely monitoring one of the reservoirs that feed the Canal du Midi. The weather for the next few weeks will be decisive.