Despite a slight deterioration in December, 61% of groundwater tables in France had levels above normal on January 1, with deep infiltration of rains continuing over a large part of the territory, with the exception of the south- is, the BRGM announced on Wednesday.
This “allows us to hope for satisfactory levels at the end of winter over a large part of the territory”, indicated the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research, an organization in charge of the management of groundwater, an essential element for water supply. drinkable.
In December, the water table situation “degrades slightly” compared to November but “remains very satisfactory”: 17% are below normal, compared to 15% a month earlier, 22% are comparable (compared to 20%) and 61% above (compared to 65%).
Even if the rains were not as abundant as at the beginning of autumn, the “wet or even water-saturated soils favored the deep infiltration of precipitation” and a resumption of recharge in many sectors.
On the other hand, the aquifers of Roussillon and a large south-eastern quarter have either not benefited from sufficient cumulative rainfall over the last two months (Languedoc, Côte d'Azur, etc.) or have seen precipitation fall mainly in the form of snowy (Alpine massif) which is hardly beneficial for recharge, explains the Geological and Mining Research Bureau.
The situation across the entire metropolis remains “slightly more favorable than that observed (…) in December 2023, where 56% of levels were above normal”. Even the aquifers in the south-east and Corsica, which have “moderately low to very low” levels, still have levels higher than those of last year at the same time.
In this town in the Var, it hasn't rained for a year
A worrying situation
The situation in Roussillon remains no less “worrying”.
-In this region, “it seems difficult to sustainably replenish the reserves” in the coming months and the return to normal levels in spring “remains complicated”.
On the other hand, the aquifers of Artois, the Paris basin, southern Alsace and the Rhône-Saône corridor should display “very probably satisfactory” levels in spring, estimates the BRGM.
And for the most reactive layers, everything will depend on precipitation in the coming months.
Finally, regarding the risks of flooding by rising water tables, they seem to be receding over most of France, except in the Paris basin and Artois, if the rains continue.
150 meters underground, the water tables are drying up
France
