The Picardy has been plagued by drought and lack of rain for several months. If the north of the Oise is already placed on heightened alert, it is the turn of the Sum to be struck by a prefectural decree to protect its water resources. The Maye watershed is now in vigilance drought and must observe several restrictive measures. They particularly affect farmers, who must respect “collective volumetric management” and “a ban on sprinkler irrigation on crops in effect on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.“, according to the press release from the Prefecture.
The Bresle and Avre watersheds, already on drought alert, are now placed on heightened alert. For Bresle, a strengthening surveillance measures, limitation and temporary prohibition of the uses of water is implemented on watering, work in the course of water or the filling of bodies of water. This concerns individuals, communities, farmers and industrialists.
Additional measures if the situation worsens
According to the latest readings, taken on July 15, 2022, the flow of the Maye River is below vigilance threshold as well as the groundwater level. The readings of the Bresle sector show them a weakening of water levelsnow below the heightened alert threshold.
The state services specify that in the event of aggravation of the situation, “additional measures governing the use of water may be activated by prefectural decree“.