What contains the “water plan” presented by Emmanuel Macron this Thursday


For his first trip to the region for two months, the Head of State presented in Savines-le-Lac (Hautes-Alpes) the long-awaited “water plan” of the government, which contains 53 measures.

After a particularly dry winter, which portends the worst for the country’s water availability this summer, Emmanuel Macron presented this Thursday the “body of waterof the government on the shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon (Hautes-Alpes). A long-awaited plan, of 53 measures, intended to improve the management of water, a resource threatened by global warming and drought. Agriculture is the first concerned, with 58% of the total consumed. Consumers of drinking water (26%) such as households, the catering sector or even tourist sites are also called upon to be more responsible. Just like manufacturers (4%) and energy producers for cooling power plants (12%). Le Figaro reviews the main measures intended to reduce the water consumed in France by 10% by 2030.

A “sobriety plan on the water by summer”

We will ask each sector for a sobriety plan on the water by the summer“, announced Emmanuel Macron. “The ministers will bring together in the coming days the different sectors: tourism, culture…“, he specified. Communities will also be mobilized as part of this sobriety plan. “State buildings will be equipped with rainwater harvesting mechanisms and agro-efficient equipment“, in particular indicated the President of the Republic. A communication campaign aimed at the general public will also soon be launched to encourage sobriety.

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Establishment of an “Ecowatt of water”

On the model of Ecowatt for energy, Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment by the beginning of May of a “Ecowatt of water“. This tool “will empower everyone“, according to the Head of State. This device will allowknow the steps to take and the evolution of the situation” of the territory. In its document summarizing the 53 measures of the plan, the government specifies that it will bean easy to access and use tool“, on which everyone can “know the restrictions that apply according to their geolocation and their category of user, and the eco-gestures recommended with regard to the local hydrological situation“.

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Save 10% of water by 2030

Beyond the emergency and the short term, the heart of the water plan, with its fifty measures, is above all a plan of sobriety and efficiency over time.“said Emmanuel Macron. The objective announced by the president being by 2030 “to save 10% of water in all sectors“. The Head of State listed five main lines of work: “accelerate sobriety everywhere and over time», «fight against leaks», «invest in wastewater reuse», «supporting the transformation of our agricultural model” And “implement water pricing everywhere“.

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180 million euros per year to absorb leaks

On average in France, one in five liters of water is lost in the network before reaching the consumer’s tap. In places, the infrastructure is aging and there are many leaks. “This is an aberrant situation that must be corrected urgently.“, Estimated Emmanuel Macron, presenting the situation as”the result of historical underinvestment“. To remedy this and support the most vulnerable territories, 180 of the 475 million euros in additional aid from the water agencies “will be dedicated to the small water cyclefrom 2024. In total, 170 “black dots» where the leaks are greater than or equal to 50%, ie one liter out of two wasted, have been listed by the State services.

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Move to 10% wastewater reuse by 2030

On wastewater,significant water savings can be made“, estimated Emmanuel Macron. “Today in France, less than 1% of wastewater is reused“, he noted, affirming his objective to increase to 10% by 2030. This will notably involve the identification of 1,000 projects in five years, in conjunction with local authorities, to reuse wastewater. The Elysée tenant also felt that, for certain leisure uses, the use of reused water – or recovered rainwater – must become the norm. In this area, France is in fact lagging behind some of its neighbours, who are used to living with endemic water stress. In Spain, more than 15% of gray water is used in particular for irrigating fields, watering public gardens and cleaning streets. This rate drops to 8% in Italy, ten times less than in Israel.

Generalize a “progressive pricing” of water

The President of the Republic wants to establish a “progressive and responsible pricing“water that can be”widespread in France“. “The first cubic meters are charged at a modest price, close to the cost price. Beyond a certain level, the price per cubic meter will be higher“, he explained.

A dozen municipalities in France have already adopted a progressive scale according to the quantity of water consumed by households. Since January 1, 2023, the city of Montpellier – it is a municipal prerogative – has introduced billing in four installments. The first goes from 0 to 15 m3, the bare essentials for everyday use. The water is then free. The last section goes beyond 240 m3. The cubic meter is then invoiced at 2.7 euros per unit. The model is working. Dunkirk, a pioneer in this area with a progressive scale in 3 installments adopted several years ago, has seen this. The average consumption of Dunkirk residents today is 67 m3 of water per year, i.e. 16% less than the national average (80 m3).

Transforming the agricultural model

Are the sectors of today still adapted to the climate of tomorrow? We have to ask ourselves this question“, again challenged Emmanuel Macron. The Head of State notes the evidence of developing for certain territories “other cultivation schemes“. “We will have to reinvent agricultural models in our Republic“.

For this, he promises aid of 30 million euros to farmers for “intelligent systemsof water use, such as water irrigationdrip“. The plan also aims to maximize water storage in soils, with “more hedges and more trees, wherever possible“, as well as “new works“. A fund of 30 million euros for agricultural hydraulics will also be released to facilitate the use of existing structures and improve infiltration into groundwater.

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“ATadapting our nuclear sector to climate change»

The Head of State indicated that a meeting involving the “50 locations“industrial”that have the greatest potential for reducing water consumptionwould take place shortly. This primarily concerns nuclear power plants which need water to cool the reactors before returning it to the environment. “We must adapt our nuclear power plants to climate change by undertaking a vast investment program to save water and allow them to operate much more in a closed circuit“, he insisted.

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Condition future basins to save water and pesticides

On artificial water storage for farmers, Emmanuel Macron insisted, in allusion to the opposition to mega-basins such as that of Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres), on the inclusion of these projects in a framework “clear“. “This is not about privatizing water! The new reservoirs must be included in territorial projects, and based on scientific projections“said the Head of State. Emmanuel Macron asked, in return, that future works be conditioned on “significant changes in practices», starting with saving water and reducing the use of pesticides by farmers.

35 million additional euros per year for overseas territories

In this plan, I want to have a special word for our overseas territories, which have a particularly difficult situation“, declared Emmanuel Macron this Thursday. “And I am thinking of Guadeloupe and Mayotte, where we launched massive reinvestment plans four years ago. We are therefore going to release an additional 35 million euros per year for water overseas, because there we have an increased need to precisely accelerate work on the networks“, developed the president.

475 million additional euros per year for water agencies

To achieve these objectives, the Head of State announced an increase in the budget of the water agencies, which is 2.2 billion euros today, from “close 500 million euros per year(475 million precisely). “That’s the effort needed to trigger a total of about $6 billion more in water saving every year“, estimated Emmanuel Macron.



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