Drought alerts in France: where residents should look out for water restrictions

Drought alerts increased across France in June after successive heatwaves and a lack of rainfall led dozens of authorities to warn residents to be mindful of their water consumption.

In particular, central France and areas near the eastern Spanish border have seen heightened warnings in place, as water reached below-average levels. 

Departments across Brittany were cautioning residents against using excess water, and Rennes recently became the first city to limit the size of swimming pools to help combat summer drought conditions.

The interactive map below compares drought decrees issued by local authorities on June 2 and June 30. 

Click on the line in the centre and drag it left or right to see the differences. 

Drought alerts are likely to increase as the summer progresses, and any rainfall is unlikely to penetrate far enough below the ground to replenish water tables. 

You can read more about what restrictions you might face, as well as the rules that apply in your area, in our article here.