Climate change: France’s water war begins with exceptional drought

Theft of water, irrigated golf courses despite bans, private swimming pools that are difficult to control… In France, the lack of water, long considered an inexhaustible resource, is causing social tension and is a sign of climate change.

Like many European countries, France hit by several heatwaves this year and drought exceptional.

“Is this year really exceptional?” asks an industry expert who requires anonymity. In the south-east of the country, where he lives, conflicts over water did not arise yesterday, but “today they have escalated.”

In mid-July, in the Ardèche (southeast), a department appeared in the south France under close supervision drought400 m3 of fire-fighting water was stolen.

Guilty? A nearby motocross club that took it “to replenish its own fire reserve and guard the parking lot during the concert,” the same club’s vice president, Roger Kappel, told AFP, admitting they had no “right” to take the water.

The President of the Community of Municipalities of the Basin of Aubin in the Ardèche, Max Tourvieille, was outraged by this development. “It’s dangerous (…) not a drop has fallen in months (…) and is there anyone who is allowed to leave 400 m3 of water for personal use?”

in the West Francein the Charente-Maritime department on the Atlantic coast, some farmers are irrigating their crops in defiance of restrictions, the NGO warns. France Natural Environment (FNE).

“A minority of farmers are violating prohibitions and endangering a precious good, the common good,” he denounces.

“Bigger Customers, More Effort”

France The Capital Region is experiencing a historic drought, a sign of climate change. According to the Météo 2020 forecast, only 9.7 millimeters of precipitation fell in July, about 84% of the precipitation deficit compared to the norm for the period 1991-2020.France.

“We found that the water we thought was inexhaustible was not enough. At certain times of the year, it will become more and more scarce and will have to be shared,” says Thierry Bourlot, President of the Loire-Bretagne (West). Basin Committee. , radio interview France Culture.

At present, all metropolitan departments France they are under surveillance due to drought, 22 departments are on high alert and 68 are in crisis.

At this highest level of danger, watering lawns, vehicles, or even crops, as well as filling swimming pools, is prohibited. These restrictions apply to everyone – individuals, farmers and industrialists.

“Water for the most important needs”

It is necessary to “maintain enough water for the most important purposes” (drinking water, sanitation, health, safety), Agnès Ducharne, a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), explains to AFP.

But “we are down to earth in terms of water resources: the pie is shrinking, conflicts are escalating, and this raises the question of the legality of using (…) equal treatment between social groups,” Sylvain analyzes. researcher and water management specialist France Culture.

He cites, for example, the private pools of wealthy residences on the Cote d’Azur (Southeast), where it is very difficult to control whether they are filled or not, and whose owners “do not care” about the water. bill. Or coastal tourism municipalities that are not going to give up their flowerbeds, while inland cities are amenable to reducing horticultural water use.

“The biggest consumers have to do their best,” recalls Berloth. Faced with an increasingly scarce commodity, “commitment is needed” and better management “that will last all year” and not just in lean months, recalls Thierry Bourlot.

(According to AFP)

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