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Since 1980, 195,000 people have died from natural disasters in Europe, particularly during heat waves. This is what is feared for this summer, especially since two thirds of the water tables are at their lowest in France.
When this door opens in Civrieux (Ain), it is always the same concern. Below is a gallery where part of the water table emerges. It can supply three villages. “We see that there is no more water”, observes a local. This water table is too low. Last summer, the flow was 70 cubic meterss per hour at the height of the heat wave. It is now 60 cubic meters, while the heat wave has not started. “We barely cover the needs of the population on average in the year“, specifies Didier Muneretpresident of the drinking water syndicate of Bresse.
Brittany has sufficient levels
Like this water table, many are at very low levels, mainly in the central east and southeast. Some areas even show levels never before reached. The rains of May were not enoughfi to recharge groundwater. In two-thirds of France, levels have dropped. Only a few benefited from sufficient rains, it is in particular the case in Brittany.
The situation is not necessarily going to get worse this summer. But for some aquifers, recent storms will not be enough to recharge them. “On the plain of Roussillon and the Varwe know that it will never rain enough to return to normal levels“, explains Violaine Baut, hydrogeologist at the BRGM. If it is very hot this summer, the withdrawals from the aquifers risk being too high.