In drought-stricken France, tankers supply drinking water
France is seeing water shortages in regions that usually have plenty of supply. This summer's extreme heat is exposing how unprepared much of the country, and Europe, is for increasing water scarcity.
Tanker trucks have been delivering drinking water to the town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in eastern France since early August. The town, home to 5,000 people, relies on mountain springs but has been experiencing reduced flow rates due to intense heat and drought. Liepvre, a nearby town connected to a larger water supply network, provides the water.
This situation has affected over 40,000 people this month, with 550,000 at risk of losing stable access. Drought has impacted large parts of France, leading to water restrictions in various regions. Tanker trucks are used in certain areas based on the water sources available and the ease of switching to alternative resources. Similar situations have occurred in the past, such as in 2022 when tanker trucks supplied water to hundreds of municipalities in France.
In the Jura Mountains, another 12 municipalities are currently receiving water by tanker. The issue is not limited to France, with the European Environment Agency reporting that seasonal water scarcity affects roughly 30% of the EU's land area and nearly one-third of its population. The European Commission has presented a Water Resilience Strategy aiming to increase water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 and modernize infrastructure.
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