Drought: “The situation is worse than last year on the same date”, warns Christophe Béchu


Over the last 18 months in France, 15 have been short of rain. BIB-Bilder / stock.adobe.com

The Minister for Ecological Transition discussed the outlines of the national plan for water management, unveiled in a few days.

If the rain is currently falling on part of France, some regions are experiencing “a complicated situationwith persistent dryness. THE “worries“concentrate in particular”in the Rhône corridor and around the Mediterranean“, Underlines this Thursday morning on Sud Radio the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. For Christophe Béchu, “the current situation is worse than last year on the same date“, adding that”all lights are red“. Over the last 18 months, 15 have had a rain deficit.

A national plan will be [d’ailleurs] unveiled in a few days with about fifty measures», specifies Christophe Béchu. This plan will mention provisions concerning the “reuse of wastewater, recovery of rainwater, the fight against leaks or raising awareness on its use of drinking water“. Every day, the French use “150 liters of water“recalls the Minister,”we live in an illusion of abundance“. “However, water is life, so be careful not to waste it“, he completes.

SEE ALSO – Drought: what are the “soft restriction measures” mentioned by the Minister for Ecological Transition?

A “deconcentrated management” of water

Christophe Béchu notes a “decentralized management» of water in France and does not exclude increases in the price of water in certain departments. Currently, the price of wateris around 4 euros per cubic meter“. The national plan will also mention “a financing part“for individuals and municipalities, in particular to finance tools”rain recovery“.

Last week, the minister was already summoning the prefects to take water restriction orders “right now» and not «not have a shaking hand“. Last summer, “We had up to 700 municipalities affected by drinking water problems. If we don’t take measures upstream, we run the risk of having an even higher figure next summer and over larger territories. with larger agglomerations concerned, he had warned.

SEE ALSO – Drought: probable “restrictions of anticipations” to come, announces Marc Fesneau



Source link -93