Authorization for pumping in the lake, first groundbreaking: we take stock of the interconnection intended to ensure access to drinking water for Bouchitois.
“Now we can get to work. » With these words, Jean-Louis Reynaud, mayor of Landos, administratively sealed his commitment, like his counterpart, Alain Vidal, to carry out the interconnection project to secure access to drinking water which is lacking in Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. The municipality will legally take charge of the case. In other words, once the subsidies have been deducted – they must represent 70% of the work of around 2 million euros – there will be a re-invoicing to Landos.
“We can’t see the end”: when access to drinking water is just a pipe away in Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas
This signature was last June, two years almost to the day after the first resupply of the Bouchitois reservoir by a dairy truck. Twenty-four months during which ensuring access to drinking water for the inhabitants of the small town on the volcanic plateau was far from the long, quiet river. Flow variations damaging the network, to the point of causing breakages, at the four drillings undertaken without success.
While the resource of Lake Bouchet still flows through the taps of individuals and breeders, thanks to authorization from the Department and the Regional Health Agency, those involved in the matter had to switch to “option B” in disaster. Last April, the Saint-Haon municipal council voted against the interconnection with Le Bouchet.
Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas facing a lack of water: what are the effects of pumping on the lake?
In one month, the community of communes of Pays de Cayres-Pradelles, the Water Agency (funder via the resilience contract), the Departmental Council, the State and Le Bouchet got into working order with a new partner: Landos. The town with a leaky network which has embarked on major work to combat the phenomenon. Estimated budget: 900,000 euros.
“Commissioning of the connection before summer 2025”
Since the signing in June, “the contracts have been awarded,” announces Paul Braud, president of Pays de Cayres-Pradelles. And last week, the Department extended the authorization for pumping in the volcanic lake granted to Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. “We have planned broadly for what is, we hope, the last renewal: usually we did 6-month periods, here we went until the end of June 2025, in the event of construction site hazards,” summarizes Rémi Barbe, departmental advisor, referent on this file. This was the commitment of the Department and the ARS: to propose a temporary solution until a more lasting way was found. Here we are: time for the work to be done and it will be finished. »
Nitrates, remaining responsibility for the municipalities, calendar… what we know about the interconnection project between Le Bouchet and Landos
What about the calendar? “It still holds,” assures the sub-prefect of Puy, Nathalie Cencic. “In the market service offer, the work must start on November 15 (Friday, Editor's note). For reasons of delay in supplying pipes, it will perhaps be a few days later” for a project “to be carried out during the winter as well as in the spring and commissioning of the connection before summer 2025”.
Nora Gutting
