French authorities have implemented water restrictions in 45 of the 102 provinces in the country. The restrictions prohibit “non-priority” irrigations, including the irrigation of sports fields.
Like many other parts of Europe, France is currently experiencing a hot and dry summer period which affects the water table. In some areas of the country, the situation has become that bad that the government feels interventions are needed.
Daily water updates are published on the Propluvia. As of July 23, 2020, forty-five departments are in “vigilance” (“alert” in yellow, “enhanced alert” in orange and “crisis” in red). As an indication, temporary restrictions for the watering of sports grounds are planned from the “alert” stage and total bans at the “crisis” stage. In this case, among these departments, thirteen of them are classified in “crisis” alert: Allier, Cher, Côte-d’Or, Dordogne, Eure-et-Loire, Haute- Garonne, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Lot, Saône-et-Loire, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne and Vendée.