“The fairly marked and especially very early drought requires State measures quite early in the year,” stated Pascal Jobert, departmental director of territories and the sea (DDTM) for the Alpes-Maritimes, during a press conference.
This decision results in restriction measures for two-thirds of the municipalities in the department affected, specifically prohibiting individuals from filling private pools or spas, washing cars, and watering between 9 AM and 7 PM. Municipalities must close fountains, water features, and refrain from high-water road cleaning.
This drought alert placement was motivated by the observation of various drought indicators (river flow, soil moisture index): during the groundwater recharge season, which runs from September to March, the rainfall record shows a deficit of 48% compared to normal, with a total of 357 mm compared to a usual value of 685 mm.
