2023-08-01 14:40:57
While some regions deplore the absence of sun, others await the rain. According to Christophe Béchu, Minister for the Ecological Transition, a hundred municipalities are experiencing difficulties in accessing drinking water. “We have exceeded the milestone of 100 municipalities deprived of drinking water,” said the minister on Tuesday at the microphone of France Inter.
Christophe Béchu told Free lunch that “today 119 municipalities (…) have drinking water difficulties”. This phenomenon affects about 30,000 people. It is certainly less than last summer “when we had exceeded 700 municipalities” without drinking water, but “we are very vigilant”, underlined the Minister.
The rains will not prevent the drought
The ministry raised the possibility of “punctual or temporary (water) cuts” for the rest of the summer. Christophe Béchu is counting in particular on the 500 interconnection works launched since last summer to secure the water supply, but some could not be carried out in time to ensure this summer. And so following last year’s drought and lack of sufficient rainfall during the fall and winter to recharge the water tables, the rains that have been falling for a few weeks will not prevent the drought.
“Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean we don’t have drought problems. And in the same way, it is not because the temperatures are lower than normal for a few days that there is no climate change”, underlines Christophe Béchu. According to the Minister, 62% of groundwater, the main reserves of drinking water, are currently at worrying levels, including 20% at very low levels. As of July 1, the Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM), responsible for monitoring groundwater, indicated that 68% of them were at moderately low to very low levels.
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