A commune in the Doubs department, Arbouans, has been officially declared a zone affected by a natural disaster due to severe drought conditions. On Tuesday, September 22, a decree published in the Official Journal of France confirmed that the town is experiencing land movements caused by the drought. These movements are linked to the presence of clay soils, which are particularly sensitive to changes in moisture levels. The decree states that more than 3% of the commune's territory showed signs of this sensitivity between January 1 and December 31, 2025. As a result, residents now have 30 days to report any damage—such as cracks in homes—to their insurance companies in hopes of receiving compensation. The "crisis" drought level has been extended in the Doubs department, indicating that the situation remains severe. On September 3, the regional prefecture decided to prolong the drought crisis status, which had been in effect since July 17, for at least another fifteen days. This means that restrictions on water use remain in place, including bans on activities like cleaning gardens or terraces, filling swimming pools, or watering plants. Local gendarmes are actively monitoring compliance, and about a dozen violations have been recorded across the department so far, leading to formal procedures against those who broke the rules. In addition to the local enforcement, the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) reported that out of nearly 300 inspections conducted, about a dozen violations were found. Individuals found in breach of the water restrictions could face fines of up to 1,500 euros, while communities or companies could be fined up to 7,500 euros. The drought of 2025 has had increasingly severe effects in the Doubs department, exacerbated by a series of intense heatwaves experienced during the previous summer. These extreme weather conditions have placed significant pressure on water resources and have led to widespread environmental and infrastructural challenges.