After the episodes of rain, a new assessment of the aquifers of the Pyrénées-Orientales revealed

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Drought still rages in the Pyrénées-Orientales. But after three years of rainfall deficit, the driest department in France experienced several episodes of precipitation this fall. So much so that the annual balance sheet, although slightly in deficit, is approaching balance in 2024.

A few days ago, the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) unveiled its latest monthly report on the state of groundwater in France. Although the situation remains very critical, the level of water reserves in the Catalan country is indeed increasing.

Several episodes of rain this fall

This fall, the Pyrénées-Orientales experienced several beneficial episodes of rain. At the end of October first, with impressive and unprecedented accumulations for more than a decade on the Roussillon plain. 132mm of precipitation were recorded in just 24 hours near Perpignan.

Then at the beginning of November, a new disturbance brought its share of rain, in a much smaller quantity, but spread over several days. Moderate rain was extremely beneficial for the soil, as was finally the case at the beginning of December, with a rainy week.

In short, autumn 2024 played its role well in the Pyrénées-Orientales, with 280mm of rain recorded in the plains since the beginning of September. That’s more than half of the year’s precipitation. Moreover, as News Perpignan indicated to you (read above), 2024 was the rainiest year since 2020 in the department, even if the total (512mm) will remain below normal, of around -10%.

A little hope for groundwater

The question that now arises is the following: what effects have these successive precipitations had on the department’s water reserves? At 1^is December 2024, the BRGM does not announce a miracle: “the state of the water tables remained unfavorable in the Pyrénées-Orientales”summarizes the research office.

However, “the Roussillon and Aude aquifers are the only ones to see their condition improve between October and November 2024,” he confirms. “Levels are returning above monthly normals on the alluvial aquifer of the Aude, after almost 3 years of deficit levels,” even announces the report, which offers a first hope for our neighbors in Aude.

However, for the Pyrénées-Orientales, “rainfall in recent weeks has been very insufficient to compensate for the rainfall deficits accumulated for more than 3 years” in the department, he continues.

Levels remain very low on the Roussillon plain and low on the Corbières Massif.

The recharge period continues

The Roussillon plain will therefore have to wait for other episodes of rain in the coming months and years, to definitively end the drought crisis. As a reminder, the groundwater recharge period will continue until spring. The snowfall recorded in the mountains in recent weeks is also good news.

This Friday, December 20, the water table located in Rivesaltes showed a level higher than that of December 2023, but still lower than previous years:

While waiting for further rain, the prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales Thierry Bonnier has extended the state of crisis over a majority of the department, until at least January 31, 2025. A decree which should, in all likelihood, be extended for the umpteenth time.

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