Ministry releases draft decree on water abstraction

The Ministry of Agroecological Transition has shared details of a draft decree aimed at implementing the agricultural emergency law related to water abstraction, following recent press leaks. The decree is expected to be put out for public consultation soon, with plans for implementation by the end of 2026. A meeting of the national water abstraction group is currently underway to discuss the details.

Decree classifies water abstraction sites

The draft decree proposes to classify water abstraction sites into three categories: exempted, non-exempted, and priority. Exempted sites have good water quality and are not required to take mandatory actions, though they may be subject to voluntary measures. Non-exempted sites have poor water quality and will be required to take preventive actions by local authorities.

Priority sites face strict regulations

Priority sites, which are the most polluted, will be subject to stricter mandatory actions by departmental prefects. These sites must meet specific water quality criteria, with at least two exceedances of 90% of the drinking water standard. The actions will be implemented through a formal decree outlining an action plan for each site.

Only a small number of sites will be prioritized

According to the Ministry, about 1400 of the 2000 abstraction sites will be classified as priority, and 1700 of the 2500 abstraction points will be non-exempt. The mandatory actions will focus on the "most contributory areas" for priority sites, which are estimated to cover 2 to 4% of France's total agricultural area.

Environmental groups criticize the proposal

Before the draft decree is made public for consultation, it has already drawn criticism. Générations Futures, an environmental organization, argues that the proposed water quality thresholds are too lenient and will only protect a small number of sites. The group estimates that the number of sites where the government may need to intervene, such as banning pesticides, will be very limited.

Public water operators call for stronger measures

France Eau Publique, a network of public water and sanitation operators, has called for lower water quality thresholds and the inclusion of all pesticide molecules in the regulations. The network is concerned about the burden on local authorities and is requesting strong financial support for water protection efforts. It argues that funding should be redirected to support agricultural practices that protect water, rather than those that harm it.