France imposes water use restrictions amid drought

Prefectural orders across several French departments have introduced water‑use restrictions in response to a prolonged drought. In Haute‑Garonne, an order issued on 18 June 2026 limits garden irrigation and vehicle washing between 13:00 and 20:00 and restricts pool filling, effective until 31 October 2026. In Ille‑et‑Vilaine, a 26 June decree bans irrigation of gardens, sports fields and private pools, limits vehicle washing to professional stations and reduces agricultural and industrial withdrawals, also running until 31 October. Loire‑Atlantique’s Montrelais commune entered a reinforced alert on 26 June, temporarily prohibiting irrigation, pool filling and private vehicle washing until 28 June. The Oise department placed ten sectors in a vigilance alert on 29 June, urging voluntary cuts to irrigation, pool filling and other non‑essential uses. In the Vienne, an ecological restoration of the Auxance river removed an old water gate, created fish habitats and acquired farmland to improve groundwater recharge, securing potable water for more than 5 000 residents. The Vosges sector of Neufchâteau now bans garden irrigation between 11:00 and 18:00 and prohibits pool filling, façade cleaning and private vehicle washing. All measures aim to curb water consumption and protect supply until the end of the dry season.