Macron launches a new water policy to address the shortage: the “Water Austerity Plan” | outside

Last summer, large parts of France faced drought. Then Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne called it “the most severe drought on record in the country”. There are fears that some municipalities will again have to deal with major water shortages this summer.

To rectify this, Macron wants to work on a new water policy. He presented his plans Thursday to Lac de Serre-Ponçon, an alpine reservoir that threatens to become less full as a result of climate change.

Among other things, there will be pricing interference. Macron wants to introduce “progressive and responsible tariffs” for water consumption across France. It seems that “the first cubic meter will be billed at a modest price, which is close to the cost price.” “From a certain level, the price per cubic meter will rise.”

The intention is also to reuse 10 percent of wastewater in France in the long term. Currently, this only happens with 1 percent of French wastewater. “That is why we decided to launch 1,000 water recycling and reuse projects over five years,” says the president. “Ultimately, we want to reuse 300 million cubic meters, or three Olympic-size swimming pools per city.”

Moreover, “by summer” each sector will be required to “water austerity plan”. Among other things, the president calls on the “energy, industry, tourism, entertainment and agriculture” sectors to assume their responsibility. Specifically for industry, Macron also announced a meeting with “50 industrial sites” that “have the greatest potential to reduce water consumption”. The intent is to “work with them on an investment plan to save water.”

France’s nuclear power plants, the country’s third largest water consumer, will also have to do their part. They would have to work “much more in a closed circuit” to use the cooling water.

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