After a record-breaking winter drought, France has been grappling with how to better conserve water.
Restrictions have been imposed at the local level according to the severity of the water problem.
Authorities are using four alert levels.
They are crisis (shown in dark red on the map), heightened alert (red), moderate alert (orange) and vigilance or low alert (yellow).
You can also check the water restrictions in your local area on the new VigiEau website.
Last summer, the country faced its worst drought on record. That, coupled with a record winter drought, has left groundwater levels very low.
"The situation is worrying because we have had several dry years and the whole of France is affected," said Violaine Bault, a hydrologist at the state-run Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM).
Read also: New website tells you the water restrictions in your part of France
What water restrictions apply for each alert level?
Yellow: Vigilance or low alert
- People and businesses are encouraged to reduce their water usage, but it is not obligatory.
- Information on reducing water usage and managing drought should be shared by local and departmental authorities – you may receive flyers in the mail outlining this.
- Roofs, pavements, facades - Banned except if done by a professional cleaning company
Orange: Moderate alert
- Bans could be introduced on watering gardens, green spaces or golf courses within certain hours
- Bans may be introduced on washing cars within certain hours
- Limits could be imposed on the amount of water used to fill swimming pools
- Water usage for agricultural means is limited (banned between 11.00 to 18.00)
- Measures are put in place to ban the opening of sluice gates
- Roofs, pavements, facades - Banned except if done by a professional cleaning company
Read also: This is how the government wants you to save water this summer
Red: Heightened alert
- Stricter limits on watering gardens, green spaces or golf courses. There are exceptions for trees, bushes and vegetable gardens within certain hours (banned between 11.00 to 18.00)
- Stricter limits are placed on washing cars and in some cases, this is banned completely
- Water usage for agricultural means is limited by 50% or more (banned between 09.00 to 20.00)
- No filling of public pools
- Roofs, pavements, facades - Banned except if done by a professional cleaning company
Dark red: Crisis Alert
- Water use is only permitted for necessary uses such as drinking, health, civil security, cleaning
- Ban on watering gardens, green spaces or golf courses. There are exceptions for trees, bushes and vegetable gardens within certain hours (banned between 11.00 to 18.00)
- No watering of sports grounds during the day unless for national/international event
- Ban on washing cars
- Ban on filling swimming pools
- Ban on water usage for most agricultural practices
- Ban on the cleaning of roofs, pavements, and facades - except if done by a professional cleaning company
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