The state of groundwater in France is "satisfactory", despite "worrying levels" in areas of the Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude

The state of French groundwater is "satisfactory" overall, according to an update made on Friday, June 13, by the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM). The BRGM notes in its monthly bulletin that in May " 35% of observation points are below monthly norms, 19% are comparable [to them] and 46% are above (respectively 27%, 23% and 50% in April)". However, the situation has deteriorated in one year: in May 2024, 70% of levels were above monthly norms .

As is often the case, the situation appears mixed: levels range from close to below normal on the reactive aquifers (very sensitive to rainfall deficit) in the North; they are above normal on the inertial aquifers (which react slowly) and the aquifers in the South and Corsica.

"The water levels in Roussillon and the Corbières massif are still worrying, from low to very low," underlines the national geological service.

The rains have improved the situation locally in these areas of the Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude, which have been hit by drought for several years, but have not been sufficient.

"Even though the levels are higher than last year, we are still at levels well below normal," observed Violaine Bault, hydrogeologist at BRGM. "The rains that fell this winter have not made up for the deficits of the last two years," she said at a press conference. Forecasts for the coming months remain "very pessimistic," and this "regardless of the rain and temperature scenario" in these lands of viticulture, arboriculture and tourism, according to the bulletin.

In the rest of France, the outlook is more mixed. Groundwater levels are generally draining, meaning they are becoming empty, a trend that is expected to continue until the fall.

"The current, very favorable situation for the inertial aquifers of the Paris Basin and eastern Lyon suggests levels above normal during the summer," the specialists note. Forecasts "remain more uncertain for the other aquifers: rather pessimistic for the reactive aquifers of northern and central France and optimistic for those of the South [except those of the Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude], " according to BRGM.

Météo-France has already warned that higher than normal temperatures in France are the "most likely" scenario for this summer (June-August), particularly in Corsica. However, for rain, "no scenario is favored for France and a very large part of Europe," according to the public institution.