Drought Alert in Alpes-Maritimes and Var: Measures Put in Place and What You Need to Know

The drought alert has been triggered for several weeks in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. The recent rains have not made it possible to rebalance the very significant water deficit that the region has suffered for several months. Summer is going to be complicated. We take stock of the measures put in place in these two departments.

Like everywhere in France, the flows of rivers and groundwater are abnormally low for the season. The rains of recent days have not allowed an upgrade. The Alpes-Maritimes and the Var have been on drought alert since March.

This implies a change in behavior on the part of private and professional users.

In order not to get lost, we explain to you what you have the right or not to do. In the drought alert stage, i.e. most of the Alpes-Maritimes (see below the municipalities concerned by the heightened alert)

Prohibition of watering from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fillings prohibited, with the exception of the first filling provided that the site has started before the start of the first stages of water restriction.

Upgrade allowed.

Prohibited except in case of imperative linked to health.

• Bodies of water, artificial bathing

Filling and leveling prohibited, except for contributions essential to the proper functioning of the
fish farms.

Closed unless operated in a closed circuit or with a push button system. Measure suitable for public health.

Closing (some municipalities have chosen to leave their showers in operation).

• Lawn, golf courses, sports fields, flower beds and green spaces

Prohibition of watering from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and reduction of consumption by 20%

• Vehicles, watercraft and equipment

Washing prohibited except for professionals using high pressure equipment and a water recycling system.

Washing with large water prohibited, washing under pressure authorized when it is carried out by a community.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, the catchment areas of La Cagne, Esteron and Paillon went on heightened alert on 28 April. The municipalities concerned are as follows:

Cagnes-sur-Mer, La Gaude, Saint-Jeannet, Saint-Paul de Vence, Vence, Aiglun, Amirat, Ascros, Bézaudun-les-Alpes, Bonson, Bouyon, Brianconnet, Collongues, Conségudes, Coursegoules, Cuébris, Gars, Gilette , Penne, Mas, Broc, Ferres, Mujouls, Pierrefeu, Revest-les-Roches, Roquesteron, Roque-en-Provence, Saint-Antonin, Saint-Auban, Sallagriffon, Sigale, Toudon, Tourette-du -Château, Carros, Gattières, Tourettes-sur-Loup, Bendejun, Berre-les-Alpes, Blausasc, Cantaron, Châteauneuf-Villevieille, Coaraze, Tales, Sheet, Escarène, Lucéram, Peille, Peillon, Touët-de l’ Escarene.

These municipalities are concerned by all the measures taken by the drought decree with the exception of these:

• Prohibition of watering (except for the planting prior to the decree of trees less than one year old)
• Prohibition of watering golf courses (except certain courses), reduction of consumption by 60%
• Industrial users must reduce their consumption by 40%

Of the 153 municipalities in the Var department, 2 are in drought crisis, 43 on drought alert, 85 on heightened alert and 23 on vigilance.

• The municipalities in drought crisis level are Riboux and Saint-Zacharie in the Huveau Amont area.
• Enhanced drought alert concerns the cities of the basins of theArgens and Gapeau : Ampus, Les Arcs, Aups, Bargemon, Barjols, Besse-Sur-Issole, Bras, Brignoles, Brue-Auriac, Calbasse, Callas, Camps-la-Source, Cannet-des-Maures, Carcès, La Celle, Chateaudouble, Chateauvert , Claviers, Correns, Cotignac, Draguignan, Entrecasteaux, Esparron, Figanières, Flassans-sur-Issole, Flayosc, Forcalqueiret, Fox-Amphoux, Fréjus, La Garde-Freinet, Garéoult, Gonfaron, Lorgues, Le Luc, Les Mayons, Mazaugues, Montferrat, Montfort/Argens, La Motte, Le Muy, Nans les pins, Néoules, Ollières, Plan d’Aups, Ponteves, Puget-sur-Argens, Rocabron, Roquebrune sur Argens, La Roquebrunasse, Rougiers, Saint Antonin-du Var, Saint Martin-de-Pallières, Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, Saint-Raphaël, Saint Anastasie sur Issole, Salerno, Seillons-Source-d’Argens, Sillans la Cascade, Taradeau, Taverns, Le Thoronet, Tourtour, Tourves , Trans-en-Provence, Le Val, Varages, La Verdière, Vidauban, Villecroze, Vins-Sur-Caramy, Belgentier, Carnoules, Collobrières, La Crau, Cuers, Pierrefeu-du-Var, Pignans, La Farlède, Hyères, Méounes -les-Montrieux, Puget-Ville, Signes, Solliès-Pont, Solliès-Toucas, Solliès-Ville.

The rest of the department is on alert or vigilant.

Most of the restrictions are similar to those put in place in the Alpes-Maritimes department. For more details:

Prohibition of watering from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and reduction of withdrawals by 40%

• Lawns, beds and green spaces

Prohibited (except trees and shrubs planted in the ground for less than 1 year: prohibition of watering from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

– Reduction volumes of at least 60% by a ban on watering the fairways 7 days a week.

• Interdiction to water the golf courses with the exception of the “greens and tees”. Except watering by controlled resources: prohibition between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Fillings prohibited, with the exception of the first filling provided that the site has started before the start of the first stages of water restriction. Upgrade allowed.

– Prohibited except related to public health (including in the event of activation of level 3 of the national heat wave plan by the prefect of the department) and recycled water games.

• Bodies of water, artificial bathing

– Filling, leveling and emptying of bodies of water and basins prohibited.

– Leveling authorized for artificial swimming declared and controlled by the Regional Health Agency.

– Upgrade allowed for commercial use.

The supply of public and private fountains in open circuit is prohibited, except exemption requested from the service of the water police.

Closing.

– Interdiction to water the sports fields from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and two days out of three successive days, so as to reduce water consumption on the weekly volume by 50 to 60%.

– A sampling register must be completed weekly.

• Vehicles, watercraft and equipment

– Washing prohibited except for professionals using high pressure equipment and a water recycling system.

-Washing prohibited for individuals in any place.

– Forbidden unless carried out by a community or a professional company with pressure washing.

The prefectures indicate that regular checks will be carried out. Offenders are liable to a fifth class fine: 1500 euros fine for a natural person and 6000 euros fine for a legal person.