A severe drought has prompted 24 out 96 departments of France to impose limits on water usage, the country’s Ministry of Ecological Transition said on Saturday.
The restrictions range from simple calls to save water in some areas to a more than 50% reduction in agricultural withdrawals and bans on washing cars, watering gardens and filling swimming pools in others, the ministry told Le Figaro.
Rainfall levels have been well below France since September 2021, and last month the deficit reached 25%. The situation was exacerbated by abnormally hot temperatures in May, which is on track to become the warmest on record.