In Drought-Stricken France, Tankers Supply Drinking Water
France faces water shortages in usually well-supplied regions as summer heat waves expose Europe's growing vulnerability to water scarcity.
In eastern France, a drought-stricken town called Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines has been receiving drinking water through the use of tankers since early August. The town, home to 5,000 people, is situated in a green valley in the Vosges Mountains and typically relies on 20 mountain springs for its water supply. However, a lack of rainfall due to intense heat has caused the flow rate from these springs to decrease.
The nearby town of Liepvre, connected to a larger water supply network, is providing the necessary water for Sainte-Marie through tanker trucks, acting as an effective water pipeline on wheels. Over 40,000 people have experienced water cutoffs or supply disruptions this month, with 550,000 more at risk of losing stable access. This situation is not unique to France; drought has been affecting large parts of the country, leading to water restrictions in many regions.
In 2022, tanker trucks were also used to supply water to hundreds of municipalities in France. Similar issues have been observed in other parts of Europe, such as Germany's Badenova service company, which is prepared to transport water by tanker truck if needed in case of spring and groundwater level declines. The European Commission has recently presented the first European Water Resilience Strategy, aiming to increase water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 and modernize infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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