Tap water pesticide map reveals widespread contamination

In 2026, millions of French people drink tap water contaminated with pesticides, according to an interactive map created by the organization Vert using data from the Dans mon eau platform. The map displays results of health inspections of drinking water between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, in each drinking water distribution unit (UDI) across France.

Interactive tool shows pesticide presence by commune

By entering the name of a commune, users can check whether their tap water contains pesticides. Pesticides include active chemical substances from plant protection products used in agriculture or biocides used at home or in buildings.

Yellow zones affect over half the population

According to the map, 36 million French people (out of a population of 69.1 million) drink water containing at least one pesticide, corresponding to the yellow zones on the map. Pesticide concentrations do not exceed quality limits, and health authorities state that tap water can be safely consumed.

Agricultural practices linked to contamination

The majority of these chemical substances originate from plant protection products used in agriculture. The presence of pesticides is linked to grapevine and cereal cultivation in Burgundy-Franche-Comté and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and corn cultivation in Brittany.

Overseas territories face unique challenges

In overseas territories, 38 communes are supplied with drinking water containing at least one pesticide. However, analyses in Martinique and Guadeloupe focus little on chlordécone, a toxic herbicide used in banana plantations until its ban in 1993, despite its persistence in soils and water.

Orange zones show exceedances of safety limits

In other regions, quality limits for pesticide content in drinking water are exceeded (in orange on the map). This does not always mean the water is toxic, but actions to restore its quality are mandatory. The January 11, 2007 decree regarding the quality of water intended for human consumption sets these limits at 0.1 microgram per liter (µg/l) per substance, or 0.5 µg/l for the sum of all pesticides analyzed.

Hauts-de-France most affected by exceedances

Over the twelve months concerned, there were 1,305 exceedances of standards regarding the pesticide content in drinking water. The Hauts-de-France region is the most affected, with more than half of its drinking water distribution networks (56%) affected by pesticide concentrations exceeding the standards, impacting about 2.7 million people.

Some regions have relatively clean tap water

In overseas territories as well as in metropolitan France, some areas have tap water relatively preserved, marked in green on the map. About 20.7 million people have no quantified pesticide in their drinking water. Nouvelle-Aquitaine, known for its vineyards, is marked in green due to the geology of the soil, which provides deep aquifers relatively spared from pollution.

Grey zones show lack of data on pesticide presence

Many parts of the territory are in the grey zone on the map, where no pesticide has been searched for in these areas during the twelve months. This concerns nearly 4 million French people. This lack of data is visible in mountainous areas where agriculture is less developed, except for livestock.

Legal actions target non-compliant communes

The General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) confirms that 90% of drinking water non-conformities are due to pesticides and their metabolites. The Public Health Code specifies that the person responsible for the production or distribution of water must take corrective measures to restore water quality.

Lack of corrective actions leads to legal battles

However, according to the IGF report, in 73% of non-conformity cases, no derogation request has been made, making it impossible to ensure corrective actions are carried out or that the population is informed. Associations are suing communes where quality limits are exceeded. On June 11, the commune of Oursel-Maison in the Oise was found guilty by the Douai Administrative Court of Appeal for not making a derogation request and initiating sufficient corrective actions.

Environmental groups demand stronger state action

France nature environnement (FNE) has sued the state in April to compel it to protect drinking water, arguing the state has not implemented necessary measures to ensure the protection of drinking water sources.