Brittany adopts water management plan amid groundwater crisis

A new water management plan has been adopted for the Vilaine river basin, covering parts of Brittany and Pays de la Loire. The plan, approved by the local water commission with 45 votes in favor and 18 against, aims to address degraded water quality affecting 1.3 million inhabitants. Key measures include banning herbicides for corn in sensitive erosion areas located within drinking water catchment zones.

The decision follows years of negotiation and previous opposition from agricultural groups. While Prefect Emmanuelle Dubée stated the state would support the operational implementation of the plan to improve water quality, agricultural representatives expressed concern. The FNSEA-JA had previously protested the measures, and the FDSEA of Morbihan noted that the socio-economic impacts and increased production costs for farmers remain unclear due to a lack of specific impact studies.

This management plan arrives amid a broader environmental crisis in Brittany, where 94% of groundwater levels are reported to be below normal. This deficit, driven by prolonged droughts, urbanization, and increased consumption, poses significant risks to local agriculture, biodiversity, and domestic water supplies.