A resilience plan specific to the Pyrnes-Orientales to face the drought was presented by Christophe Bchu, on Wednesday 22 May 2024. The department must serve as an experimental laboratory for adaptation to climate change.
Five ways to respond to the situation of high water tension in the Pyrnes-Orientales: this is the resilience plan presented by Christophe Bchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, on Wednesday, May 22, during a trip to the department. This variation National water plan was necessary due to the specific context that prevails there. In fact, the Pyrenees-Orientales have been facing a lack of rain for two years now, leading to dry rivers, historically low groundwater levels and soil water deficits of up to 90%. This situation has a negative impact on various uses, including drinking water supply and agriculture.Out of 226 municipalities, 50 of them are currently under increased surveillance, so detailed the minister of ecological transition.I am especially thinking about the 12 that are already completely or partially deprived of drinking water.
Get to know the collected quantities better
The first axis of the plan aims at better knowledge and better management of resources. For this, meters equipped with remote reading will be installed, in order to better monitor the pumping of water, and the irrigation channels will be equipped with instruments for measuring flow and transported quantities. The data will be distributed as part of the water observatory. Furthermore, a strategy will be created to define the trajectory of water saving by using and adapting the local economy to climate change until 2030.
Reduce withdrawals
The second pillar of the plan will be based on action on water needs. Especially through raising awareness, for example sectoral work on possible savings and training on innovative knowledge. We have to regulate drilling, a certain number of which are historical and built over time, Christophe Bchu point. We cannot continue to open wells or drill without authorization and without an objective vision that allows us to share water. The ban on drilling will remain until the legalization of these works is completed. Existing authorizations will be adjusted to ensure a return to quantitative balance.
Furthermore, the fight against leaks will continue.In 1this one In January of this year, nine municipalities still had a leakage rate above 50%; they were 13, a year agoexplained the minister.The overall leakage rate across the department is above the national average and we must continue to move forward. In municipalities that have difficulties in supplying drinking water, this rate is In average greater than 35%, with heavy impacts. Furthermore, outdated irrigation canals will be modernized.
EUR 10 million contribution to 7 projects
The third axis of the plan focuses on the availability of resources. One of the leading measures consists of financial support for seven projects structuring and no regrets height ofat least 50% to facilitate their implementation. The €10 million budget announced by the Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica Water Agency will be provided as new co-financing with this in mind. Thus, three clean wastewater reuse projects will be launched in Argels (agricultural irrigation), Saint-Cyprien (urban and agricultural use) and Canet-en-Roussillon (urban and agricultural use).
The agricultural profession is waiting, especially where it suffers the most, the Agly valley, the structuring project that it represents securing and supplying downstream irrigation networks Agly, said Christophe Bchu. This is the first project we have dedicated ourselves to.
Agriculture, the largest user of water in the department© Minister of ecological transition
Another project consists of installing remote control on a plot on the Corbre Canal, to better distribute water volume envelopes to installed arborists. The last two projects will focus, one on improving the operation of the Perpignan canal, which irrigates almost 3,000 agricultural hectares, and the other on the restoration of leaky water networks in Ille-sur-Tt. The funds will be provided by the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Feysneau Agricultural hydraulic fund so that we can transfer and strengthen part of the projectsadded Christophe Bchu.Caisse des Dépôts will make Pyrnes-Orientales available Aqua Credits.
Other long-term projects are also considered, such as studies to ensure the use of water in the downstream area Tt (paths are the valorization of purified water from the Perpignan treatment station or the creation of an adductor to fill the Villeneuve-de-la -Raho reservoir); the construction of an irrigation network in Aspres which is currently under investigation (for agricultural use and fire safety); project expansion Aqua Domitia.Aqua Domitia, for which we have formalized our support for studies carried out by the Region, with the aim of being completed by the end of 2025. explained Christophe Bchu. The ambition is potentially up to €1.5 billion of work to bring water from the Rhne, which explains why it’s taking a little longer to push the button.
Grouping encouraged and management revised
1.5 billion euros
This is the amount earmarked for the realization of the Aqua Domitia expansion project, which aims to bring water from the Rhne to the Pyrnes-Orientales.
The fourth part will deal with management audit. The government wants to speed up transfer of jurisdiction supply of drinking water to public institutions of interlocal cooperation (EPCI). Half of the municipalities of Pyrnes-Orientales are isolated or organized into small ones inter-municipal alliances: this is clearly a factor of fragility, the minister estimated.We must have a grouping, an association: this is what allows our investments to be most effective and beneficial.. In the same way, 200 authorized trade unions (As) of the department will be structured in the logic of association of unique organizations for collective management (OUGC) for canals and groundwater.
The government is also asking for an increase in the departmental price of water. There is a correlation between the fact that overall we have less work than elsewhere and the average price of the department, which is 25% lower than the national average pointed out Christophe Bchu.
In addition, the director of the resilience plan, Christine Portero-Espert, will monitor, guide and continue the discussion together with the prefect.
The last axis will focus on immediate response to crises, with planned tests Map of Orsecimplementing a strategy to monitor compliance with restrictions or regularly convening a resource committee to monitor developments and take action on restrictive measures.
The Resilience Plan has two purposes: one is to provide solutions that are as relevant and sustainable as possible, the other is to ensure that we have some sort of demonstrator of adaptation processes and solutions, said the minister. Because what you are experiencing is what awaits us in general, i.e. increasing temperatures, the proportion of water absorbed by vegetation and the proportion of evaporation which are also increasing, while the water available for human activities is decreasing.
Article published on May 22, 2024