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TWELVE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ‘CRITICAL’ LEVEL - THE HIGHEST OF FRANCE’S DROUGHT ALERTS - MEANING WATER USE IS STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO ESSENTIAL PURPOSES August’s hot weather has not

only caused forest fires in France’s south eastern departments of Var, Vaucluse and Aude, but has also brought several areas under drought warnings and water restrictions. Please be aware

that restrictions can change and you should consult the website of your local prefecture for the latest information. Currently the following alerts are in place: VIGILANCE LOCALISÉE

‘Localised vigilance’ (_vigilance localisée_), the least serious of France’s drought alerts, applies to a particular area within a department. It means the situation is being monitored and

individuals and businesses are made aware of the need to save water where possible. Areas currently under_ vigilance localisée_ are: * Mayenne * Oise * Aveyron * Ain * Hautes-Alpes VIGILANCE

INTÉGRALE Cases of ‘widespread vigilance’ concern the whole department, with every resident and business being encouraged to save water. Areas currently affected are: * Morbihan * Creuse *

Puy-de-Dôme * Lozère * Vaucluse * Isère * Drôme * Haute-Corse ALERTE LOCALISÉE Under a ‘localised drought alert’ (_alerte localisée_) specific areas of a department will come under

restrictions, with farms urged to reduce their water consumption by up to 50%, and residents encouraged to limit their use of water for non-essential purposes. Departments where this measure

currently applies include: * Seine-et-Marne * Sarthe * Maine-et-Loire * Charente-Maritime * Haute-Vienne * Landes * Lot * Rhône * Alpes-de-Haute-Provence ALERTE RENFORCÉE LOCALISÉE There

are currently seven French departments under ‘high localised drought alert’ (_alerte renforcée localisée_). It means that people in certain areas should not use water for non-essential

purposes such as washing their car or watering their garden. Some of these activities may also be officially prohibited to help conserve water. Farms must also reduce their water consumption

by half or more. Departments currently under these restrictions are: * Eure-et-Loir * Vienne * Deux-Sèvres * Charente * Pyrénées-Orientales * Hérault * Gard CRISE LOCALISÉE When water

supplies in some areas are in a ‘critical condition’ (_crise localisée_), farms and residents in certain areas are forbidden from using water for unnecessary reasons, conserving it for

drinking, cooking and washing only. This measure is in force in the following departments: * Loiret * Loire-Atlantique * Vendée * Pyrénées-Atlantiques * Gers * Tarn-et-Garonne * Haut-Garonne

* Tarn * Aude * Bouches-du-Rhône * Var * Alpes-Maritimes For details of the drought alerts which apply to your area, you can also consult the government’s Propluvia website. RELATED STORIES

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