Drought: Adopt the right actions!
09 June 2022
The Morbihan Prefecture has placed the department under a “reinforced drought alert” due to the scarcity of water resources following an exceptionally dry season.
Water supply on the islands
The supply of drinking water to the islands is a real concern. Each island has had to adapt to its natural resources and develop its own strategy to meet the water needs of residents and tourists staying there.
Water availability depends on the weather; it is an unpredictable resource and therefore vulnerable to climate fluctuations. During dry years, like in 2022, the situation can quickly become critical.
The right actions
Staying on an island therefore requires taking its specificities into account in order to continue enjoying its benefits for a long time!
I make sure to close water taps properly and immediately report any leak I notice;
I prefer short showers rather than baths. I take care to save water during my washing;
I use household appliances wisely: neither overloading nor underloading, and in eco mode;
I do not let water run when washing dishes or brushing my teeth;
I do not wash my boat with drinking water;
I prefer to refill my boat’s water supply at a mainland port;
In a secondary residence, I regularly check my water meter during periods of non-use to ensure there are no leaks in my installation.
THE ISLAND OF GROIX, particularly affected
On the island of Groix, four wells, between 40 and 60 meters deep, are spread across the island. They are fed by rainwater infiltration into the soil. These installations supply the permanent residents of the island with water. In summer, the water demand triples. To cope with this peak in consumption, a dam was built in 1967 at Port-Melin. It stores rainwater and runoff, constituting a useful reserve of 80,000 m³ from which water is drawn between June and September.
This year, the island was placed under “alert” then “drought crisis” starting in June. Now under a “reinforced drought alert,” the situation remains tense.
Thank you for your vigilance!