In the small village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, nestled in the Isère region of France and overlooking Mount Blanc, residents are facing an ongoing water crisis due to severe drought conditions. Since late July, the village has been under strict water restrictions, as a single water source feeding a 50m³ reservoir at an altitude of 1,000 meters has been unable to meet the needs of the 250 residents. This has been exacerbated by the lack of significant rainfall over the past three months, making it difficult to sustain basic water needs. To help alleviate the situation, a large chrome-colored truck—normally used for transporting milk—has been deployed to deliver 60m³ of water per week to the village. This amount covers three-quarters of the village’s weekly consumption. The Grésivaudan intercommunal community, which manages water resources in the area between Grenoble and Chambéry, has been both dispatching and funding the truck. Neighboring villages, such as Crêts-en-Belledonne and Saint-Maximin, have also received similar support this summer, highlighting the widespread nature of the drought across the region. According to Météo-France, as of September 20, 84% of France was affected by a decadal drought, with some areas experiencing drought levels not seen before. Matthieu Perrotton, head of the drinking water service for the Grésivaudan community, notes that water scarcity in the Chartreuse area has been a growing concern over the past five to six years, with this year being particularly severe. He emphasizes that the assumption that mountainous regions have abundant water sources may be incorrect, as some local water sources are not as reliable as previously believed. Clément Bonnet, the mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, confirms that the village has experienced less rainfall since 2022 and attributes the current water scarcity to climate change. He notes that both animals and plants in the area are suffering, and the landscape has taken on a dry, arid appearance similar to that of Texas. The village is classified as being in a "crisis" by the government's VigiEau website, which monitors water conditions, and residents are following strict water restrictions to ensure the community's survival. Magali, a resident who has lived in the village for eight years, says a stream on her property has dried up each summer, reflecting the broader trend of water depletion. To address the long-term water needs of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, the Grésivaudan community has launched a project to capture a new water source, costing over one million euros. Mayor Bonnet acknowledges that this project would not have been possible without the financial support of the intercommunal community. Meanwhile, three members of the Green parliamentary group have written to the Isère prefecture, urging it to monitor the water usage of the STMicroelectronics semiconductor plant in Crolles, which they claim consumes 1,000m³ of water per hour. They argue that the current water stress is unsustainable and has caused a sense of injustice among local residents.