French communes ban new private pools amid drought

In response to recurring heat waves and water shortages, several French local authorities have prohibited the construction of new private swimming pools. The Communauté de communes du Pays de Fayence, covering nine municipalities northwest of Cannes, enacted a five‑year ban on new pools, effective until 2028, citing the need to protect groundwater and residents' drinking‑water supply. That same year, the town of Elne in the Pyrénées‑Orientales also issued a similar prohibition.

France currently has about 3.5 million private pools, the highest number in Europe, making the restrictions a notable step toward conserving limited water resources in the affected regions.