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Lake Broc lies dried up due to drought in Le Broc near Nice in southern France on the 19th of last month (local time). / EPA Yonhap

Following its third-driest summer on record, France continues to grapple with persistent drought, prompting alerts across most regions and triggering water-use restrictions.

A drought that began in the spring, combined with heatwaves arriving earlier and more frequently than usual, has driven soil dryness levels in France to their worst on record.

The southern and Mediterranean regions face the most severe conditions, with groundwater and major river levels sinking to record lows, triggering the highest drought alert level of "crisis."

Brittany in the west, bordering the Atlantic and characterized by an oceanic climate, is often jokingly said to see rain year-round, but conditions this year have defied that reputation.

Despite traditionally experiencing mild weather and frequent rainfall, the region recorded highs of 42°C amid heatwaves this summer and has been placed under the "crisis" drought tier since the 14th of last month, mirroring the southern regions.

The national drought alert system comprises four color-coded tiers based on severity—Vigilance (yellow), Alert (orange), Heightened Alert (red), and Crisis (dark red)—applied regionally.

The vigilance tier calls for voluntary water conservation, the alert tier strictly restricts water usage, and the heightened alert tier limits water usage for agriculture. The most severe crisis tier entails a complete ban on non-essential water use.

According to local daily Le Parisien, conditions are expected to deteriorate further as high temperatures persist this month alongside a lack of rain. Little to no precipitation is forecast nationwide through the end of the month.

Under prolonged drought conditions, restrictions enforced at the crisis stage include a 25% reduction in industrial water use, bans on watering green spaces such as golf courses and stadiums, bans on car washing, prohibitions on filling swimming pools, and a ban on watering vegetable gardens between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Jean-François Riche, president of the Saint-Malo water union, voiced concern in an interview with franceinfo, warning, "Our remaining water resources can last about two and a half months, but if it keeps failing to rain as it has, we may have to cut off running water."

Riche noted, "During times of severe water scarcity like this, we recommend individuals consume 40 liters of water per day, but people are still using 120 liters," warning that "water pressure in the pipes will be reduced if residents do not cut down their consumption."

                                                                                                               Lim Yu-jung