France confronts water financing shortfalls and drought-driven usage limits

Maria Salvetti presented a comprehensive French water‑heritage study marking the UIE’s centenary, highlighting a chronic financing gap for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. The study estimates an annual deficit of about €1 billion for stormwater management and warns that current funding models—largely dependent on local taxes—are unstable, calling for more sustainable financing and stronger agency coordination.

In response to worsening hydrological conditions in the Lot department, prefect Marilyne Poulain issued the first water‑use restrictions effective 6 June 2026. The decree limits withdrawals from streams and associated aquifers after a wet winter followed by a dry spell and heatwave, aiming to protect river levels and ensure essential water availability.