Tankers deliver drinking water to villages in drought-hit Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Water tankers are being used to supply villages in Creuse after drought left a local water source unable to meet demand.

The SAUR water company has been transporting water to the reservoir serving the Vallière area for several days, after the La Ribière water intake, in the neighbouring commune of La Nouaille, became insufficient to meet local needs.

Some villages in Vallière and Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs have experienced reduced water pressure and occasional interruptions to their supply.

SAUR said available water volumes had fallen to exceptionally low levels, with supplies on some days no longer sufficient to meet local demand.

There have been no prolonged water cuts, but residents have been asked to continue limiting consumption to essential uses.

Creuse drought restrictions eased

The shortages persist even as recent rainfall has allowed the Creuse to ease its drought restrictions.

On October 30, the prefecture moved four of the department's five river basins from the highest 'crisis' category to 'alert'.

This covers all areas supplied by the Cher, Creuse amont, Creuse aval, and Vienne, leaving only three communes in the department exempt from ‘alert’ status: Saint-Martial-le-Vieux, Saint-Oradoux-de-Chirouze and Saint-Merd-la-Breuille.

The prefecture has published official guidance as to what can or cannot be done here.

Some activities, including certain types of vehicle washing, are now permitted again. However, restrictions remain in place on filling pools and emptying lakes and ponds.

The prefecture warned that groundwater reserves had not yet benefited from significant replenishment and that continued water conservation was necessary.

The department has experienced its lowest rainfall since 1959, according to local authorities.

Water shortages persist across France

Creuse is among the areas where this year's drought has left a lasting impact on water resources.

October brought significant rainfall to parts of France, particularly the south-east, where several Mediterranean weather events caused flooding. However, conditions remained much drier in other regions.

Météo-France reported on November 5 that the ground remained unusually dry across much of France.

Meanwhile, the French geological survey reported on October 20 that 68% of monitored groundwater levels were below their seasonal averages, with 74% still falling.

Parts of the Massif Central, including Limousin, remained particularly affected.

You can check local drought restrictions and water-use rules through the government's VigiEau website.