“The legislation will change”, says Marc Fesneau

The drought continues in France, with more than 30 days without rain. “We have a deficit which is worrying. More than 60% of the aquifers or reserves which are under capacity. […] We have worrying data, so we need to anticipate. Four departments are taking action”explains Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, guest of the “4 Truths” of France 2, Friday February 24. “The stock that we normally replenish in winter has not been reconstituted or imperfectly, that is what is a matter of concern”he adds.

Mega-basins: “There are sectors, if we have no water reserves, there will be no more agriculture”

In this context, is the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty in favor of mega-water retention basins? “We need structures of this type to ensure that when there is surplus water, we can store it for people where there is none. […] They must be developed when this makes it possible to respect balances in terms of the water cycle. Practices also need to change. […] There are sectors, if we don’t have water reserves, there will be no more agriculture”warns Marc Fesneau.

The question of the reuse of wastewater is debated. “We have sent, or it leaves, to the Council of State a text which aims at the reuse of gray water. We are at 1.8% of use of this water in France, when in Italy we are at 15 or 17 %. […] We have a decree in Council of State coming out. The legislation will change to soften and clarify a number of things, it was a brake”specifies the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.