Eure and Orne French Departments Impose New Water Restrictions Amid Severe Drought

In the Eure department, prefect Xavier Delarue announced reinforced water‑management measures after a prolonged rainfall deficit and a recent heat wave lowered river flows. The department moved several river basins to vigilance or alert status and introduced immediate bans: private garden watering, vehicle washing and filling private pools over one cubic metre are prohibited between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; farmers must stop sprinkler irrigation in the same window; public green‑space watering, golf‑course irrigation, and non‑essential industrial water withdrawals are also limited, with a 5 % cut for industry and direct river withdrawals halted except for special permits.

Across the neighboring Orne department, council president Christophe de Balorre warned that water reserves are below average and that groundwater and stream levels have been “tight since April”. He described the situation as “L’or bleu risque la zone rouge” and highlighted the urgency of new drilling projects such as La Bordinière, La Hactière and the Costières boreholes. De Balorre called for faster regulatory action, greater cohesion among local actors, and heightened public vigilance to preserve the water supply for residents, businesses and agriculture.