Are you affected by water restrictions?

An episode of drought is characterized by a lack of water of varying length, but sufficient for the soils and flora to be affected. This phenomenon leads to various consequences, including:

• drying up of watercourses;
• the increased risk of fires;
• difficulty in supplying drinking water.

When such an event occurs, the prefects may introduce exceptional, gradual and temporary measures to limit or suspend non-priority water uses for individuals and professionals.

4 levels of severity determine the type of measures implemented.

1. Vigilance individuals and professionals are encouraged to save water (this is a level of awareness, no restrictions are put in place).
2. Alert: in particular, restrictions are put in place on watering, filling and emptying swimming pools, as well as washing vehicles and irrigating crops.
3. Reinforced alert: activities with consequences for aquatic environments are prohibited; stricter restrictions are put in place for watering, filling and emptying swimming pools, as well as for washing vehicles and irrigating crops.
4. Crisis: water can only be withdrawn for priority uses (health, drinking water, civil security, etc.). Water withdrawals are prohibited for agriculture (totally or partially), for many domestic uses (washing your vehicle at home or at a professional, filling or upgrading your private pool, etc.) and for public spaces.

How do you know if water restrictions are in place in your municipality?

The VigiEau platform, designed in particular by the teams of Météo-France in 2023, allows you to learn about the water use restrictions decided by the prefect of your department.

Simply enter your address, allowing your geolocation or clicking on a map to indicate the location concerned by your search for information. You can subscribe to the platform's email alert system to be notified as soon as restrictions on your territory change.

The water restrictions orders are also published on the website of the State services of your department (you can access this website by writing in a search engine "State services + the name of your department").

These decrees are also sent to the mayor of each commune concerned for information purposes.