France's groundwater situation is alarming, official report shows

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The situation of France's groundwater is sounding alarm, an official report revealed on Monday.

The Bureau of Geological and Mining Research said in a statement that the groundwater levels were below the monthly normals as of March 1 due to the lack of precipitation in February.

The rain infiltrated during fall is not sufficient to compensate for the deficits accumulated during 2022, nor to improve the situation of the groundwater, according to the French geological survey.

France is in a "state of alert" over drought risk this summer, Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Bechu said on Feb. 22. He then met local authorities to discuss the situation.

He also said the groundwater has a two-month delay in terms of replenishment.

On March 11, Bechu said he will soon unveil a water sobriety plan.

France's weather authority Meteo France said on Feb. 22 that the country recorded a historically severe drought this winter, with no precipitation for 32 days since Jan. 21.

"This causes soil to dry up, which was already weakened by the drought in summer 2022," it said in a statement.