Drought conditions are increasingly dominating discussions in regional newspapers and major news broadcasts across the country. Farmers are expressing their concerns regularly, with cereal producers reporting significant financial losses, fruit growers describing poor harvests, and livestock farmers considering selling part of their herds due to a shortage of forage. These challenges are primarily linked to a lack of water, which has been exacerbated by repeated droughts and the effects of global warming. Currently, 93 departments are under water usage restrictions, with 74 of them facing the most severe level of hydraulic crisis. This has sparked debates about who is responsible for the crisis—whether it is the state, which is perceived as failing in its regulatory duties, or agricultural producers who rely on large amounts of water, or private interests operating in a market where water is becoming increasingly scarce. To explore these questions further, three guests are invited: Agnès Ducharne, a hydrologist and research director at CNRS, and journalists Vincent Lucchese and Nicolas Celnik. Their insights will provide a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding water scarcity and its impact on agriculture and policy. For additional reading, The Thirsters: an investigation into these companies that are appropriating our water by Nicolas Celnik and Fabien Benoît, published in Les Liens qui Libèrent in April 2026, offers a look at how certain companies are using water resources. A France Without Water, the Hidden Side of the Disappearance of Water by Vincent Lucchese, published in Alisio in June 2023, examines the hidden consequences of water loss in the country. Lastly, Water Notebooks: Water Management, from Local to Global by Marc Laimé, published in Le Monde Diplomatique, explores water management practices at both local and global levels.