Lyon water authority urges cuts as heatwave drives 60,000 m³ daily overuse

During the late‑June heatwave, temperatures in Lyon reached 37 °C and prompted the Rhône department’s drought‑alert level. Eau du Grand Lyon reported that residents consumed up to an extra 60,000 m³ of water per day – roughly one‑third above the utility’s normal daily output of 200,000 m³. The surplus volume is equivalent to filling 24 Olympic‑size swimming pools daily.

The utility warned that the surge, driven by increased showering, garden watering and pool filling, could strain water resources as river flows have fallen 13 % over the past six decades. It reminded users of water‑saving practices such as limiting outdoor irrigation to early mornings or evenings and postponing pool refills. Investment of €40 million in 2025 upgraded infrastructure and repaired over a thousand leaks, aiming to cut consumption by 15 % by 2035.