Water use restrictions have been introduced in several parts of France following an unusually dry and warm spring, with officials warning that conditions could worsen in the coming weeks.
The latest measures affect rivers in Dordogne, where authorities have placed 10 waterways under drought surveillance after a week of exceptionally high temperatures and a prolonged lack of rainfall.
The restrictions come despite heavy rainfall earlier in the year.
Restrictions include bans on filling swimming pools, washing vehicles and cleaning buildings using river water. Watering gardens and sports grounds is also prohibited between 08:00 and 20:00.
Farmers and businesses face tighter limits on water abstraction, with withdrawals reduced or fully banned at crise level.
“The sudden rise in temperatures and absence of rainfall are causing river flows to fall,” the Dordogne prefecture said, warning that smaller watercourses are the first to be affected. It added that soil moisture levels at the end of May are already below those seen in typical dry years, raising the risk of a seasonal record drought.
Three zones are currently at crise level: Terrats (Pyrénées-Orientales), Châtillon-Coligny (Loiret), and Bairon (Ardennes).
At this level, all non-essential water use is generally banned, including watering gardens, filling pools, washing vehicles and most agricultural abstraction, subject to limited exemptions.
Other areas, including the southern Dombes region (Ain), are under alerte renforcée, where water use is significantly reduced for households, businesses and farmers.
Groundwater levels remain mixed
Despite a wet winter in many regions, groundwater levels across France remain uneven.
As of May 29, 32 departments were at average levels, 34 were moderately low, 12 moderately high and seven low, according to Info-Sécheresse data based on Eaufrance monitoring.
The lowest levels are recorded in Meuse, Haute-Marne, Doubs, Haute-Loire, Creuse, Corrèze and Haute-Vienne.
The contrast highlights the difference between groundwater reserves and surface water systems such as rivers and streams, which respond more quickly to heat and low rainfall.
