France Declares Widespread 'Exceptional' Drought

Overview

• Monique Barbut, who warned Wednesday, said 99 metropolitan departments now face water restrictions, 43 are at crisis level where water is limited to priority uses, and about 206 préfectoral orders are in force.
• River flows have fallen sharply since June and nearly one third of monitoring points are below 20-year minima while about one quarter of small streams are dry, creating acute stress on ecosystems and local water supplies.
• The drought is unusually early, running almost a month ahead of past patterns, and it follows a spring of broadly normal rainfall that officials say points to climate-driven changes in the water cycle.
• The alert comes on the eve of a commission mixte paritaire to reconcile a Senate-revised emergency agricultural bill that the environment ministry says could reshape oversight of water agencies, increase storage and relax environmental rules, raising fears of intensified competition for scarce water.
• Local authorities have used préfectoral orders to prioritize uses such as drinking water and essential services, farmers and some unions warn of growing conflict, and officials say the situation will worsen without significant rain in the coming weeks.