Two years of work concluded with a major test, carried out this Monday January 13, 2025 in Seine-et-Marne: discover the new giant basin designed to protect Paris and its region from the flooding of the Seine.
Several departments are on alert”flood and flood” at the start of 2025. In 2024, Paris has beaten its rain recorda sad performance which worries many private and public actors: the Paris town hall is preparing awareness and action plans to train Parisians in the scenario of a significant flood of the Seine.
The river which crosses the capital has already given some fright to those who live on its banks. THE climate experts foresee a multiplication of raw and floods in the coming years, due to climate change.
To deal with these disaster scenarios, and prevent widespread damage throughout the Île-de-France region, several communities (including the Greater Paris Metropolis, the Pays de Meaux conurbation community, etc.) have decided to create a special body, in order to manage and prevent these risky situations. L’public territorial basin establishment (EPTB) Seine Great Lakes therefore built a new basin intended to collect excess water, and to lower the level of the Seine during periods of significant flooding, in order to avoid flooding.
The construction site of pilot locker Seine Bassée started in 2021. The work was completed in 2024; A flood test was carried out this Monday, January 13, 2025, before the official commissioning of this pool 360 hectares. This experimental project, installed in Seine-et-Marne between the municipalities of Châtenay-sur-Seine, Balloy, Égligny and Gravon, “ consists of creating dyked areas capable of retaining part of the water of the Seine in the event of a major flood and lowering its level by up to 15 cm depending on the floods and locations. »
This basin is also accompanied by a pumping station and a 7.8 km long dike. The Seine Bassée pilot reservoir complements and supports the effort of the four reservoirs already built to prevent flooding in Aube, Haute-Marne and Nièvre. According to information from Parisian andActu.frthis project would have cost 114 million euros.
Latest tests
This monumental basin should therefore soon be put into service. This Monday, January 13, 2025, the Prefecture and the organism Seine Great Lakes carried out the first phase of the test. Municipalities, owners and operators located near the site have received a warning. On Tuesday the 14th, they will receive an evacuation order. The next day, the basin will be filled halfway, and the water will remain stored for two weeks. Then, at the beginning of February, the entire basin will be filled and stored again for 16 days. The water will then be drained and the site will reopen to the public.
At each stage, careful controls will be carried out by agents and authorities, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the devices. If each inspection is validated, the site can be officially inaugurated.
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