While France is going through a historic drought, the battle for water between local residents and municipalities has clearly begun.
Latest example to date: a singular theft that occurred in Ardèche in recent days.
Our colleagues from Dauphiné Libéré reveal that the commune of the Aubenas basin (CCBA) has filed a complaint for the illegal pumping of one of its water reservoirs.
Thief " ?
The neighboring motocross club, which admitted to having pumped water from the basin!
Another drift, in the town of Marchiennes (North), the inhabitants came to supply themselves with water at the taps of the communal cemetery to circumvent the restrictions, a costly ploy which prompted the authorities to cut off the water.
These two cases pose a burning question in context:
First of all, you should know that water is considered to be intended for domestic use if the withdrawals are devoted to basic needs such as hygiene or food and reserved for the consumption of the people in the household.
Withdrawals of less than 1000 m3 per year are generally assimilated to domestic use.
Can we use water from the river?
You can fill a few water canisters in a river, as well as in a canal or stream.
It is still necessary to ensure that the water level is not too low, specifies the Departmental Water Agency of Morbihan, joined by Le Parisien.
If you live near a watercourse, there is a form to be completed with your municipality for any domestic water abstraction works with a pump (river, groundwater or source) as specified in the code. of the environment.
Sampling, however innocuous, can disrupt the ecosystem of the river, hence the importance of reporting it, as pointed out by the Community dedicated to the management of aquatic environments in Lac du Bourget.
Each river has a minimum flow to maintain for the good health of the ecosystem it inhabits;
if it is no longer reached naturally, all abstraction from the watercourse must cease.
And before you start, stay alert to the drought decrees in force in your municipality: this practice is indeed often prohibited because it is considered not a priority.
Finally,
Of a pond and a pond?
It is possible to recover water from a pond or a pond within reason, but beware of restrictions in your municipality!
Nevertheless, if you are the proud owner, in the event of a drought warning, you can always pump water from your pond or pond to water your garden, while remaining vigilant about the quantity taken, as indicated by Marillys Macé, general manager of the Water Information Center at TF1.
Be careful though, it's not because you own the soil
that you are also from the basement.
Before taking water from your land, check with the town hall first, because regulations may vary depending on your municipality.
From a well in my garden?
If it occurs to you to serve yourself directly from your well to circumvent the restrictions, think twice.
A well draws water from surface water tables, so these are domestic withdrawals and in times of restriction, the owners of these facilities are subject to the same restrictions as anyone else.
Normally, any domestic use authorizes you to use your well as you wish;
on the other hand, be careful, the water from a well or a borehole is regulated and the quantity is limited to less than 1000 cubic meters per year.
From a fountain?
If a prefectural decree does not prohibit it, it is possible to get water from a drinking water fountain, always within reasonable limits.
However, the question does not arise at the moment in the departments placed on vigilance because of the drought: to save water, the supply of private and public fountains is simply prohibited there if they operate in "open circuit". and are connected to the drinking water network.
The fountains of Pernes-les-Fontaines have paid the price, since the 41 famous installations are stopped, reports France Bleu.
