In many regions still facing a severe drought crisis, the majority of car wash stations have been forced to close. Pauline Perrin, who manages eight Elephant Bleu franchise car wash locations in the Côte-d'Or department, has not seen a single customer since August 3. The extreme heat of the summer of 2026, combined with a historic drought that has persisted into early autumn, has led to water restrictions across 75 departments, which are currently in the highest level of crisis. As a result, individuals are prohibited from washing their vehicles at stations, and many businesses have been completely halted. Out of the 10,000 car wash stations across the country, nearly half have been closed since mid-summer. Paul Gallaud, president of the car wash branch of the influential automotive lobby Mobilians, says the situation is worsening, with more stations closing every week. He is urging authorities to grant exemptions to car wash operators in drought-affected areas to allow them to reopen at least partially. Gallaud represents the sector within Mobilians and is pushing for relief measures to help struggling businesses. Pauline Perrin acknowledges the need to conserve water but criticizes the lack of support for her industry, which is the only one completely shut down during the crisis. She notes that other businesses, such as golf courses, are still allowed to use water. Perrin is concerned about the financial impact of the prolonged closure, estimating a monthly loss of 20,000 euros without any government assistance. If the situation continues, many car wash managers could be forced to close their businesses, with some already initiating bankruptcy procedures. Paul Gallaud, who manages nine car wash stations, considers himself relatively lucky. His stations are located in the departments of Isère and Savoie, where the drought alert level is one step below crisis, allowing limited operations. However, these stations operate in a "degraded mode," offering a restricted selection of washing programs. A professional car wash typically uses between 60 and 120 liters of water per vehicle, compared to 340 liters for a home wash. Car washes also play an important environmental role by collecting and treating pollutants like sludge, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Without them, these contaminants could end up in the soil and groundwater. With no clear reopening date in sight, Pauline Perrin and other car wash managers are beginning to question whether they should continue to follow the rules. Some customers are frustrated by the closures and are washing their vehicles at home, which is both illegal and more water-intensive, undermining the effectiveness of the restrictions. Perrin warns that the pressure is mounting, and she fears that some operators may eventually choose to break the rules to keep their businesses afloat.