Water scarcity and drought examples of management in

Water scarcity and drought: examples of management in France Istanbul, 16 March 2009 Jean-Paul Rivaud MEEDDAT/DGALN/DEB

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES France shared in two from a climatic view by the 45 th Parallel Ø North 45 th parallel: ü Summer are hot and dry (increase of the yields) ü In winter increase of floods and of sea levels Ø South of 45 th parallel: ü Increase of temperature+ drought ü Lower annual rainfalls ü Decrease of yields and arable lands

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES F Projected impacts from climate change in different EU regions (source: Iglesias et al. , 2007)

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES A new institutional tool to react to WS&D Ø The « charte » of 2004 promoting: Ø When the occurrence of a damage even remaining uncertain in the current context of scientific knowledge … Ø Public authorities apply the precautionary principle… Ø evaluation of risks… Ø adoption of provisional and proportionate measures in order to prevent the damage.

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES The recent french regulatory tools Ø The drought and water scarcity management plan from 26 October 2005 Ø The French act on water and aquatic ecosystems of 30 December 2006 Ø The law on Grenelle process (2008)

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Other existing tools in France - The Masterplans of 1992 include early warning systems with thresholds (information, alert, crisis) - Restriction measures can be taken at local level - Monitoring and metering are developped for both superficial and groundwaters - Agreement are existing with « owners » of dams to provide water for receipting middles during the dry season - Preventive measures are financed by water agencies and charges are collected

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES The situation in France regarding droughts - The reference drought event : 1976 - Drought events become more and more frequent - Three important events since 2000 - Around 85% of the 60 million inhabitants impacted by restrictions in 2005 - 75 departments where measures of restriction were taken during the summer 2005 - In 2003, 77 departments were concerned

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Comparison of the hydrologic situation between 1976 and 2005

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES restriction of uses in France in 2005

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES In case of droughts a priority is given to drinking water Ø In 2005 water in reservoirs was dedicated to drinking water Ø The priority given to drinking water is clearly mentioned in the article 20 of th water act of 2006 Ø When the concession of reservoirs are renegociated the priority given to drinking water in the management contract of each infrastructure

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES France is largely promoting water saving Ø Labels on water management : villes et villages fleuris (since 2006) Ø Communication campaigns : feb 2006 (stakeholders) + summer 2006 (public) Ø New meters : in 2006 water act Ø Label for golfs : 550 golfs

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Evaluation of the cost/efficiency of different water saving processes

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Costs for agricultural sector Year Subsidies for losses of crops Million € 2003 590 2004 24 2005 250

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Costs and losses for energy sector in France (around 300 M euros in 2005)

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Costs of measures to prevent scarcity - The reference event of severe drought in 1976 - Since 1987 the investments to prevent water scarcity represent about 5 billion euros in France, about 30% were financed by water agencies - The measures deal with: interconnection, transfer, metering, water saving, use of BAT, water charges, storage, water reuse, ….

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Monitoring networks and warning system are in place Ø Even if we haven’t had any majour drought event since 2005 the monitoring network and the warning system is still in place Ø It provides informations on climatic drivers (rainfalls, …) See below the type of informations and maps available in France

EAU ET ILIEUX Autumn/ Winter : deficit in precipitation AQUATIQUES weak groundtable recharge For February 2008 low precipitations in north west and south Since the beginning of the year Lower rainfalls since the last 4 years

EAU ET ILIEUX Autumn/ winter 2008 : the indicators in red AQUATIQUES

Autumn/ winter 2008 : Early warning. EAU and preventive ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES measures from public authorities anticipation ØMeeting of the national commitee on drought by February 12 of 2008 Ø Beginning of march : first restriction measures on uses

Spring/ Summer 2008 : Sufficient rainfalls in France in EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES general From march to August 2008 for hydrologic year

Spring/summer 2008 : allow to achieve EAU ETprogressivelly ILIEUX AQUATIQUES an acceptable situation for 2008 Late recharge of groundtable waters

The situation of 2008 is quite normal. EAU : nevetheless ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES during summer 2008, 34 departments were under control of the monitoring and vigilance network

Restrictions of uses in 2008 EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES

EAU ET ILIEUX AQUATIQUES Ø Informations available on the web site : www. developpement-durable. gouv. fr And the web sites of French water agencies Thank you for your attention