“We ask for the greatest vigilance!
»: as soon as they arrive, tourists are warned of the exceptional drought that is shaking the island of Groix, opposite Lorient, in Brittany, a few weeks before the start of the busy season.
At the beginning of June, the entirety of this island of 2,300 inhabitants over 15 km2 was placed by the Morbihan prefecture in a “crisis” situation, i.e. the highest level of severity in the event of drought.
While some Breton islands have a pipeline with the mainland (Bréhat, Batz) or a desalination plant (Sein), Groix uses four boreholes and a dam for its drinking water, the level of which has crossed the crisis threshold.
On the windshields of cars or the windows of shops are displayed the leaflets "Shortage of drinking water in Groix, let's be vigilant".
Among the recommendations listed: "I take my shower in 5 minutes maximum", "I turn off the water while washing dishes and brushing my teeth", "I only use the dishwasher and the washing machine at full load" .
A call for “civility”
“The water shortage has been felt since January.
This year it is really very dry”, observes Victor Da Silva, municipal councilor (opposition).
Next to a field, farmers also express their concern.
“We make sacrifices in relation to certain crops, we favor greenhouses because they bring us the most income.
We had to make choices,” says Guénolé Rousseau, 43.
In the village, Mayor Dominique Yvon believes that the “situation is not catastrophic, but could become so”.
In addition to prohibiting the watering of vegetable gardens, beach showers or fountains, the water pressure has been reduced at the tap.
The installation of a seawater desalination station is also under study, explains the mayor, who calls for good citizenship.
Denis Bredin, director of the Ponant islands association, points to an "increase in water consumption while the resource is not increasing" in territories that "make you dream", where Airbnb-type rentals have multiplied.