Drought: groundwater levels in France remain very low
France's groundwater levels remain deeply worrying at the start of October: two-thirds of monitoring sites are below normal and 81% are still falling. The autumn recharge, vital to rebuild reserves, has yet to get under way.
In France, groundwater levels have remained exceptionally low after a hot and dry summer, according to a recent bulletin from the French Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM). As of October 1st, 66% of monitoring points were below seasonal norms, with 81% of levels continuing to decline, while only 7% began to rise. Usually, autumn rains help replenish underground reserves, but this year the recharge has been very slow to start. The low rainfall, blocked infiltration, and high evaporation rates have delayed the process.
The BRGM warns that the current situation is as concerning as it was in 2022, when an exceptional drought led to critically low water levels. Many regions, particularly in Limousin, Morvan, Livradois, Forez, Vivarais, and the eastern parts of the country, are experiencing low groundwater levels. In contrast, some southern aquifers still have more favorable levels. The slow-recovering "inertial" aquifers could take months or longer to respond to rainfall, while "reactive" aquifers recover more quickly.
The situation is dire, as groundwater supplies nearly two-thirds of drinking water and over one-third of agricultural water use in France. Seasonal forecasts are uncertain, but Météo-France does not yet have a clear picture of whether autumn will bring sufficient rainfall to improve the groundwater situation. Wet conditions in winter may be necessary to bring levels back to normal in the most affected areas.
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