Drought alerts raised in south of France: Are you impacted?
A lack of rainfall means some water tables are at low levels, see any restrictions in your area
Drought warnings can come with restrictions on water usage
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Many departments in southern France are now facing drought warnings despite rainfall over the winter.
The Bouches-du-Rhône department implemented warnings for drought conditions on Wednesday (February 5) due to low groundwater levels, particularly the Crau water table.
Basins in the area are usually replenished by winter rains, before filling up further in spring and summer as snow from Alpine mountains flows into the Durance river and then makes its way underground.
However, less rainfall than usual means the water tables are at lower levels than normally seen, the prefecture announced, and are dropping at a level “more rapid than in previous years or dry years [when other droughts have occurred]”.
The Pyrénées-Orientales and Hérault departments were already facing drought alerts as a severe lack of rainfall since 2022 has kept warnings almost continually in place, even during last year’s ample rainfall.
Read more: 2024 was among the warmest - and wettest - years on record in France
Are restrictions in place?
Currently the Bouches-du-Rhône is only facing a ‘vigilance’ level of warning, which advises residents to be mindful of their water consumption.
No restrictions are in place, and the warnings do not apply to those who receive their water from the tap (au robinet) but to those who source it from a well, borehole, or who draw their water directly from a natural source.
Warnings may increase if rainfall does not partially replenish water tables.
If you want to find out about restrictions in your area, the government’s official VigiEau website allows you to check if any are in place.
Restrictions are implemented at commune (not departmental) level and can change depending on the type of water you use.
You can enter your address as well as the type of water you consume (from the tap, wells/boreholes, or from a natural source such as a spring) to see if you are affected.
You can also enter your status: resident, business owner using the water for commercial means or farmer etc, as restrictions can differ between these groups.
An interactive map allows you to see restrictions in other areas.
At higher levels of warning such as those currently in place in parts of Pyrénées-Orientals and Hérault, restrictions on watering plants, filling swimming pools, cleaning vehicles and using excess water may all come into force.
At the highest level only minimal water use is permitted.
Read more: What is France's 'drought' website VigiEau?
It is also possible to find updates on drought conditions through departmental websites, such as here for Bouches-du-Rhône.
