Water restrictions in 32 departments

WATER restrictions are now in force in 32 French departments.

The west of France is especially concerned, from the Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the south-west to all of the Poitou-Charentes and the Pays-de-la-Loire.

In the areas with bans you should not fill swimming pools, wash cars or use hosepipes. It is also recommended to take showers rather than baths.

The Ecology Ministry said the lack of rain is not comparable with more severe droughts such as those in 2003 and 2006 but it added it is “not a wet year either, so we need to use water sparingly.”

To check if your department is concerned visit: water bans

You could also check the website of your department’s prefecture, or visit your mairie: if there are restrictions they should usually put a notice up.

While there are some checks by state officials relating to such measures, and you can be fined, they are uncommon and respecting them is seen more as a “civic duty,” an official at one prefecture said.

Photo: Paul-André Belle-Isle - Fotolia.com