Water restrictions extended in southern French department as drought continues

France’s driest department, Pyrénées-Orientales, remains in a state of drought as groundwater levels continue to fall despite recent rainfall - as a new report says the problem is set to continue.

The report from the Syndicat mixte des nappes de la plaine du Roussillon published on October 17 warns that the hydrological year 2025-2026 has begun in deficit.

Water restrictions have been extended by the prefect until at least December 31, as the department faces another autumn of record-low aquifer levels.

The department’s official guidelines on water use during the continuing drought are published here, while an interactive breakdown of national water restrictions by commune is also available on the website of official monitoring service Vigieau.

In particular, residents of the hardest-hit areas are not allowed to water their gardens in the daytime, while farmers are limited in how they can use groundwater for their crops.

While up to 40mm of rain fell locally in recent days, particularly near the coast and the foothills, the effect was negligible.

“It is catastrophic. The levels keep falling, even though we have entered the period when the groundwater should start to recharge,” Nicolas Garcia, mayor of Elne and president of the syndicate told actu.fr. 

“The rain this week was good, of course, but we would need ten or twenty times more. It rained overnight, in the plain, and that is far from enough.”

According to Météo-France data, the 2024-2025 hydrological year, which starts in September, recorded 599.6mm of rainfall in Perpignan, a figure close to the long-term average and even slightly higher than the norm (+3.7%). 

‘Historically low levels’

The hydrological year started with a particularly dry September (-25.6%) followed by an almost rainless start to October.

The syndicate now classifies ten monitoring wells (piézomètres) as being in “crisis” status, up from nine the previous month. 

Three sectors of the department are of particular concern: Aspres-Réart, Agly-Salanque, and the valley of the Tech.

Aspres-Réart remains “the most worrying”, with groundwater levels “historically low and well below crisis thresholds”. 

The Agly-Salanque aquifers are considered more stable but “still in crisis” despite a temporary recovery between November and May. 

The Tech valley, which had improved slightly earlier this year, has now reverted to crisis status. 

The report notes that the Pliocene aquifer there is still not replenishing adequately, and the alluvial water table has declined again after two dry weeks.

Only the coastal and near-shore aquifers show signs of relative stability, though even these remain vulnerable if autumn and winter rains fail to arrive in quantity.

“The recharge period runs until January or February,” said Mr Garcia. “If we do not have sustained rainfall by then, we will enter spring with the same problems - or worse.”

Local authorities and water agencies are urging households, farmers, and businesses to maintain strict conservation measures, warning that the department may face further restrictions next year if trends continue.