Nord-Pas de Calais: Drought alert on rivers
The Sambre, the delta of the Aa and the Scarpe, the Boulonnais, the Audomarois… the list of basins placed on drought alert in the Nord-Pas de Calais is growing and the restrictions on the use of water are being revised surface, in particular for the irrigation of fields.
After four years of drought from 2017 to 2020, the year 2021 saw a particularly rainy summer, making it possible to avoid another year of restrictions on water use. Winter 2021-2022, one of the mildest since 1947, was marked by barely sufficient rainfall, allowing a correct recharge of the water tables over a major part of the territory of Nord-Pas de Calais.
But since March, the weather has been very mild, with above-average temperatures, very strong sunshine and low rainfall.
All the ingredients have been brought together over time to dry out the soil and reduce the flow of waterways. Faced with this situation, several basins have been placed on drought alert in recent days.
Restrictions for all users
This is the case in the north of the Sambre basins, the Aa delta and the downstream Scarpe, placed on alert.
The Yser was placed on heightened alert, which led to restrictions on the use of water for all players, including industrialists and farmers.
The watering of lawns, green spaces or sports fields is prohibited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on alert and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on heightened alert, the filling of private swimming pools and bodies of water is restricted and the Car washing is prohibited outside specialized centres. Manufacturers, in particular at the head of installations classified for the protection of the environment (ICPE) subject to authorization, will see their authorization to take samples from the drinking water network reduced by 10%. Irrigation restrictions are put in place for farmers.
The rest of the Nord department remains vigilant. ” In order to anticipate any further degradation of watercourses, all users are called upon to reduce their consumption of drinking water as well as their withdrawals from the natural environment so as not to harm the resource. “, call her northern prefecture.
Avoid more restrictive measures
” The objective is to achieve an individual and collective mobilization of all, and more particularly on the catchment areas placed on alert or on drought vigilance in order to avoid more restrictive measures. », completes the prefecture of Pas de Calais which placed the coastal watersheds of Boulonnais, those of Audomarois and those of the Aa Delta on drought alert. The catchment areas of the Lys, the Marque and the Deûle remain in a state of vigilance.
The watersheds of the Canche, Authie, upstream Scarpe, Sensée and Scheldt are not, for the moment, the subject of any measure, all users being nevertheless called upon to save water. ‘water. The same restrictive measures as in the North apply. For farmers, irrigation is prohibited on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Restrictive measures may need to be assessed depending on the situation.
More details can be requested from the Directions of the Territories and the North Sea or Pas-de-Calais.
Claire Duhar
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