50 departments on water usage alert
New figures suggest July has been the hottest and driest on record in some parts of France
WATER restrictions remain in place for 50 departments around France - as new figures show some parts of the country have seen the hottest and driest July on record.
Rainfall in some parts of France is down 83% on the seasonal average and the restrictions in place range from a "red alert" ban on non-essential water use in some parts of the south-west to more lenient guidelines - only recommending reduced water use - elsewhere.
Forecaster Météo Consult says an anti-cyclone over France that is not moving, coupled with dry air coming in from north Africa, are contributing to the drought conditions.
Dry conditions are expected to last into August in south-west France, while the north and east should see restrictions lifted by the end of this month.
The average daily temperature across all of France in July so far was 24°C - three degrees warmer than usual.
Water restrictions are decided by each individual department - and they usually only apply to a defined area, based on the catchment area of rivers.
The lowest, blue, alert is a recommendation to homes and businesses to try saving water. It currently applies to parts of the Ain, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Isère, Hérault, Aude, Landes, Sarthe, Eure and Oise.
A yellow alert imposes a 50% cut in water use by farmers, a limit to watering crops on just three days a week, and restrictions on the times of day you can water a garden or wash a car. Among the departments affected are the Charente-Maritime, Haute-Vienne, Dordogne, Drôme, Loire, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Jura, Haute-Saône, Vosges and Haute-Marne.
Orange means swimming pools cannot be filled, car-washing is banned and water use by farmers is more strictly limited. It applies to parts of the Vendée, Loire-Atlantique, Cantal, Lozère, Ardèche and Doubs.
The red alert - meaning only essential water use for sanitary and safety reasons - applies to coastal areas of the Gironde, a large part of the Lot and the 82, northern areas of the Ardèche and central Saône-et-Loire.
Check water restictions where you live at this official website.
