Maine-et-Loire tightens water rules: department on alert level due to drought

Angers – 08.07.2026: The Préfecture of Maine-et-Loire has, by an order dated 2 July 2026, placed the entire department on the drought alert level and imposed binding restrictions on water use. The aim is to secure the resource of drinking and utility water, as rivers and groundwater aquifers, according to official information, show significantly low levels. The rules apply to private households, public institutions, agricultural operations and businesses.

Prefect François Pesneau justifies the measure with a continued drying out of water bodies following a dry spring and early summer. That parts of the department were flooded in winter changes nothing: flood events do not automatically replenish groundwater reserves, and rapidly running-off precipitation cannot compensate for summer shortages. The order restricts, among other things, the irrigation of green areas to narrow time windows, prohibits filling private pools as well as washing vehicles unless this is required for hygiene, health or safety reasons. Municipal services should promptly repair leaks in networks and review emergency plans for supply.

For agriculture, there are time- and quantity-based limits for irrigation; abstractions from surface waters are subject to stricter rules. The Direction départementale des territoires (DDT) refers to the possibility of temporary exemptions for ongoing crops, which nevertheless remain subject to approval. Farms are encouraged to prioritize water-saving techniques, such as drip irrigation, soil moisture monitoring and the use of retention basins where available. The Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie (CCI) recommends that companies adapt production processes and activate emergency protocols for shortages to avoid interruptions.

Authorities are updating a hydrological status map that differentiates affected sectors and municipal zones. It warns that, depending on developments, an extension or tightening of the measures is possible. Citizens are asked to reduce consumption, for example by shortening shower times, postponing non-essential cleaning tasks and collecting rainwater where permitted. Medical and safety-related uses remain a priority.

The Arrêté entered into force on 2 July 2026. The Préfecture, the DDT and municipal services are responsible for monitoring. Information on specific bans, time windows and exemptions is provided online by the Préfecture; there are also regularly updated maps from the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The authorities emphasize that temperature peaks and unevenly distributed precipitation within a year can lead to contrasting situations — from winter floods to summer drought — which is why early conservation measures are considered preventive and proportionate.