Water restrictions introduced in Haute-Garonne

Following a period of drought affecting water resources in Haute-Garonne, the prefecture issued new water restrictions in a decree dated October 16. Four alert levels have been established: vigilance, alert, reinforced alert, and crisis. Depending on the level, the obligation to "reduce all water withdrawals" and the prohibitions targeting "activities impacting aquatic environments" vary in intensity.

Crisis level restrictions in several communes

The communes of Colomiers, Cornebarrieu, Cugnaux, Pibrac, Tournefeuille, and Villeneuve-Tolosane have been placed in crisis. This implies prohibitions on watering for vegetable gardens, lawns, flower beds, green spaces, sports fields, motocross or mountain bike tracks, and golf courses, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Washing or cleaning is prohibited for private vehicles and watercraft, facades, roofs, sidewalks, and roads. Filling, emptying of private swimming pools and feeding of private fountains are also prohibited.

Reinforced alert for thirty-one communes

Thirty-one communes in Haute-Garonne are targeted by a reinforced alert. The conditions are the same as those at the crisis level regarding watering, washing, and cleaning. However, the prohibitions "regarding leisure activities" differ slightly. Only one pool maintenance session is allowed. A first filling is accepted if the operation had started before the restrictions began. However, emptying the pool and feeding a private fountain remain prohibited.

River and aquifer restrictions in crisis

Regarding withdrawals from rivers and "accompanying aquifers," the "center" segment of the Garonne, the St-Martory canal, the Touch river, the Aussonnelle river, the Garonne tributaries downstream of the Salat river, those of the Hers-Mort, the rivers Marcaissonne, Seillonne, Sausse, and their tributaries have been evaluated as being in crisis. In this case, the restriction measures do not differ from those applied in the communes affected by the reinforced alert regarding the use of drinking water supplied by the local authority.

Vigilance level for some rivers

The city of Toulouse specifies that the Hers-Mort river and the Saune river and their tributaries, excluding those already placed in crisis, are under vigilance. Compared to the restrictions in the case of a reinforced alert level, the watering ban extends from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the ban on cleaning and washing is applied during the same time frame. Measures restricting the filling of swimming pools are suspended. Additional information is available on the Toulouse Métropole website.