“We must activate effective levers to act on both the supply and the demand for drinking water”

HAShen France faced one of the greatest droughts in its modern history, proposals for measures to limit water consumption multiplied. Eric Piolle, mayor of Grenoble, suggested setting up progressive pricing, with a water price that would increase according to consumption. More recently, Julien Bayou, MP for Paris, proposed banning private swimming pools in the event of repeated droughts.

Water management is a recurring topic of debate. In 2021, a parliamentary commission of inquiry, created by the La France insoumise group, made 76 proposals to improve water management in France. In a context of environmental emergency, effective levers must be activated to act on both supply and demand for drinking water.

According to’National Observatory of Public Water and Sanitation Services, 20% of the water produced is lost each year due to leaks in the distribution networks. This represents 1 billion cubic meters of water, or the annual consumption of 18 million inhabitants. The drinking water network was developed during the first half of the XX^e century. Since then, some networks have been largely renewed while others have become obsolete, particularly in rural areas. It appears urgent, not only to reduce leaks, but also to invest in integrating new leak detection technologies on all networks. A few levers should be activated quickly to improve the quality of the network: regulatory obligations of a minimum leakage rate to be reached at the end of a period set by law; attach deterrent penalties to non-compliance with these deadlines to encourage these investments.

Desalination, geo-infiltration…

Innovation is a key issue in improving the offer. The two largest water management companies in the world are French [Veolia et Suez] and have around them an ecosystem of hydroentrepreneurs. Faced with the scarcity of water resources, it is necessary to invest in water desalination technologies, in geo-infiltration, which consists of reinjecting water from one aquifer to another, or in circular water economy. The recovery of wastewater, for agricultural use for example, is a good way to reduce pressure on natural environments. The solutions developed specifically for certain territories in France and the experience of countries affected by a lack of water, such as Singapore, should be sources of inspiration.

You have 57.39% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.