Drought spreads: Water restrictions in force in 87 French departments

Paris – 19 July 2026: Drought conditions have intensified across France nationwide in mid-July. According to the situation report published on Sunday, 98 departments are under special observation; in 87 departments, officially ordered restrictions on water use are already in force. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is particularly affected, with nearly the entire region subject to measures aimed at safeguarding available water reserves.

The restrictions are set by prefects according to conditions in each catchment area. They may affect private households, agriculture, municipalities and businesses. Depending on the severity level, watering gardens, filling private swimming pools, washing vehicles or certain industrial withdrawals may be limited or prohibited. Local decrees are decisive.

The Environment Ministry had already warned on 13 July of an unusually early and exceptionally tense situation. The start of summer brought persistent heat and insufficient rainfall to many regions. As a result, water levels in rivers and streams are falling, while soils are rapidly losing moisture. The Massif Central in particular, an important source region for numerous rivers, is considered especially affected.

The latest national hydrological report points to a significant rainfall deficit in June. According to the report, around 54 percent of monitored groundwater levels were below the seasonal norm. As early as 9 July, 79 departments were affected by binding measures beyond a mere observation level. In 40 departments, the highest level of water scarcity had been reached.

The government is relying on regionally tiered decisions to manage the situation. The procedure in force since 2023 classifies interventions into four severity levels and is intended to create more consistent rules nationwide. Nevertheless, requirements vary considerably from place to place because groundwater, flowing waters, drinking-water networks and agricultural uses are not equally affected everywhere.

For residents, it is essential to check the rules in their place of residence. The government platform VigiEau compiles the valid prefectural decrees and shows which uses are restricted in each location. General guidance is no substitute for this check: even neighboring municipalities may be subject to different water rules if they are supplied by different networks or river catchment areas.

The current expansion of restrictions illustrates how early water reserves have come under pressure this summer. This raises the risk of further strain for agriculture and livestock farming if substantial rainfall fails to arrive. Authorities are calling on households, businesses and public institutions to reduce their consumption and use water only where necessary.