40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

More than 40,000 people in France have had access to drinking water ‘cut off’ amid the deepening drought crisis, Minister for Ecological Transition Monique Barbut confirmed. 

The 40,000 figure represents a significant increase after roughly 30,000 people were reported to have had access to water cut off at the end of July. 

The minister made the comments at a crisis meeting regarding France’s historic drought on Wednesday (August 12).

“Several hydrological indicators are returning to levels comparable to the major benchmark droughts our country has experienced, in 1976 and 2022,” said Ms Barbut, adding that the drought now “affects the entire country [and] will not end with the summer.” 

A further 550,000 people are in ‘tension zones’ with an increased risk of their drinking water resources being cut off soon, with around three million people facing some kind of risk and facing a heightened risk of cut offs.

The drought is set to cost the French economy between €10 billion and €15 billion, the minister said.

Demand for further tap water restrictions

The minister has urged departmental authorities to further implement tap water usage restrictions, and is concerned that “they are not being applied with the same diligence everywhere.” 

These restrictions place limits on tap water usage either across specific communes or entire departments, and are different from access to tap water being ‘cut off’. 

They come in four tiers, with each new level increasing the severity of water usage restrictions. 

All French departments have now implemented tap water warnings or restrictions in at least one commune, although exact restrictions can vary greatly. 

At least one department in every region has a commune facing ‘crise’ level restrictions for household tap water usage, the highest possible.

The minister also asked for departments to “systematise the implementation of inspections,” where restrictions are in place to ensure households are not breaking rules.

Multiple authorities are allowed to conduct checks on households, farmers, and businesses to ensure they are complying with current restrictions, and can issue fines to those breaking rules. More information about the checks is available in our article here. 

To prevent supplies from dwindling, certain mairies are implementing their own additional policies or restrictions. 

In Liffol-le-Grand (Vosges), authorities have reduced tap water pressure by around 30% to cut the amount of water households use.

How do you know when your tap water will be cut off? 

Unlike these restrictions, which pose constraints on using tap water such as banning the watering of gardens, washing of cars, filling up of swimming pools, etc, a tap water ‘cut-off’ sees an entire area lose access to the mains water supply. 

There is no public map of all communes currently facing restrictions, but there have been reports of tap water being cut off in the Manche, Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Jura from local media in those areas. 

Regarding the three million people at risk, Ms Barbut said "the most concerning situations remain along a corridor stretching from the Vendée to the Grand Est region [but] is now extending to the central part of southern France." 

Residents who are set to see their water cut off will be informed in advance, usually in the form of a text message from the company which manages drinking water (eau potable) services in the commune. 

They may also send letters, put notices up in public places, or have the mairie help them inform residents of an impending end to tap water supplies.

There may also be apps – either from companies managing the water or from local authorities – that can inform residents of any changes to services.

While there are many companies that manage drinking water supplies in France, the most common are Veolia, Suez, and SAUR. Around half of households in France are served by an inter-municipal public utility, owned directly by local authorities.

You can check with your local mairie, or look at a recent water bill, for information in your commune.

If you live in a shared building such as a flat, you will typically be informed of a cut-off through internal systems (group messages, etc) shared from the building manager, or through a notice on the main entrance. 

Can I sign up to be informed in advance? 

As mentioned, tap water cut-offs are separate to the national water restriction system ‘VigiEau’.

Water cut-offs are not included in the VigiEau restrictions (even at the highest ‘crise’ level), which are instead aimed at conserving water supplies to prevent communes from running out of water.

Cut-offs are instead implemented only when water levels become critically low, and as a last resort.

Suppliers, such as the Eau du Bas Languedoc in southern France may have websites allowing you to check on any incoming water cut-offs (usually for essential works, but also related to droughts), however these may not always provide up-to-date information.

This means you cannot sign up for information in advance about cut-offs, although the VigiEau maps and interactive website are useful for finding out general water restrictions in your area – read more about them in our article here. 

Generally, areas facing more severe restrictions are at a higher risk of eventually seeing water cut-offs, but the two are not always related.

Another useful resource is the monthly water table level update from the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières (BRGM). 

This shows aquifer levels across France, the main supply for drinking water. In areas facing low levels, cut-offs are more likely. 

As of August 1, 63% of water tables in France were at below-average levels for the season.

What will happen if my tap water is cut off? 

During periods where tap water is cut off, either due to a drought or another issue such as water contamination, local authorities manage water supplies for residents.

They will organise the delivery of bottled water for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. 

Bottled water will be distributed from a certain fixed point, usually the town hall or square, or another prominent building. 

Typically, you will be informed by the mairie of where to collect supplies, usually through updates on the website, word of mouth, or notices in the town. 

In some cases, SMS messages may be sent out, although this is not always the case. 

You can contact the mairie yourself directly for information. 

Water distribution is typically free, but may be limited to a certain number per household. 

Communal buildings such as sports halls or gyms may be opened to allow people to shower, if continued disruption persists – again, information on this will be available from the mairie;

Mairies may organise the arrival of water tankers or cisterns, but this is usually to top up local water towers and keep tap water supplies running. In the event of an extended cut-off, tankers are unlikely to arrive.

Supplying water via daily tanker deliveries can be expensive however. In Quincy-le-Vicomte and Quincerot (Côte-d'Or), water deliveries this summer are set to reach up to €25,000 in additional costs. Mairies must find this in their budget one way or another, either by cutting services or increasing local taxes.

How can you prepare for water supplies being cut? 

Although the historic drought has increased the risk of tap water cut-offs, they are typically rare and only a last resort. 

It is far more likely that you will face tap water restrictions before seeing any cut-offs. 

However, it is always best to prepare for the eventuality. 

Households should have at least six litres of bottled water stored alongside their emergency survival kit in the event of a water cut-off, both for sudden stoppages, planned works, and initial stages of a drought-induced cut.

Check with your mairie and water supplier to see how to sign up for any alerts, and ensure they hold up to date contact information for you. 

Regularly check VigiEau, both to ensure you are following the correct restrictions but also to check for prolonged ‘crise’ level alerts, which make the implementing of cut-offs more likely.