AFP
A drought-free summer of 2024? The majority of lights are currently green in France
After two years of significant summer water restrictions, France could perhaps escape drought this summer: at the end of spring, metropolitan water tables have mostly been full, with the notable exception of the Pyrénées-Orientales, department for which the government is launching an adaptation plan. As of May 1, 65% of metropolitan water tables were above normal, with 21% whose levels were even very high. Conversely, 22% were below normal, including 4% at very low levels, in Roussillon but also in certain parts of Corsica, the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) announced on Wednesday. much better than last year at the same time, when the situation was “very worrying” with 68% of water tables below normal, underlines the BRGM. France could therefore avoid seeing a repeat of the tense scenario of the last two summers. There is also a “slight improvement compared to last month despite the resumption of vegetation”, which absorbs part of the precipitation, notes the BRGM. As of April 1, 58% of water tables were above normal and 27% were below normal. In 2023, two thirds of metropolitan departments were still experiencing a red alert for “drought crisis” in October, after a particularly dry summer, leading to d significant water restrictions: watering bans for individuals and farmers, prohibited filling of swimming pools, reduced withdrawals for certain industrial uses… In 2022, up to 700 municipalities had been deprived of drinking water. – Restrictions in sight in Roussillon – “The situation has completely reversed due to very excess recharge” particularly during the March/April period when it rained a lot, indicated Violaine Bault, hydrogeologist at BRGM, during a briefing telephone. Unlike the winters of 2022 and 2023, this year was marked by the return of abundant rains in part of the territory, allowing very low water tables to be recharged. In March, the metropolis experienced nearly 85% more rain than the normal ones. April was more contrasted with some very rainy regions, such as the northern half and the center-east, while the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and Corsica had a deficit in precipitation. The rain certainly fell well on the Pyrénées-Orientales, for the first time in more than two years. But it arrived too late and on soils too dry to be able to truly infiltrate and recharge the water tables. As summer approaches, Roussillon therefore remains in the red regarding drought and is preparing for a third summer of significant restrictions. water uses.”Since the summer of 2023, the department has been at historically low levels”, so “even if it rained heavily, the aquifers will not be able to recharge”, explained Ms. Bault. “It will take at least two surplus winters to hope to replenish stocks.” Suffice it to say that summer should once again be difficult in this region. This could also be the case for eastern Corsica, where it has barely rained in recent weeks. – Uncertainties – But what about will it be for the rest of France? On this, the BRGM is “rather optimistic”. Over the first three weeks of May, rain continued to fall in certain regions, delaying the groundwater draining period, which traditionally begins in April. And even if the spring vegetation is now well out, it can benefit from particularly humid soils to obtain a good supply of water and thus draw less from the water tables. Likewise, precipitation favors natural irrigation of crops, again delaying excessive demand on aquifer reserves at depth. Some uncertainties, however, remain for the coming months, tempers the BRGM. Météo-France forecasts until July show a trend towards warmer than normal conditions, which could encourage water evaporation. And for precipitation, it is impossible to predict whether the rains will continue or not. The situation of certain water tables could therefore suddenly deteriorate. This could particularly be the case for the south-west of the Paris basin, the south of Alsace, the Puys chain in the Massif Central, the Saône corridor, eastern Lyon or even the west of the Pyrenees.dep /jmi/ico/egn/er
