Home page of the new Groundwater Management Information System (SIGES).
© BRGM
A SIGES (Système d'Information pour la Gestion des Eaux Souterraines - Groundwater Management Information System) is an Internet portal used to enhance and disseminate public information on groundwater.
Until now, there have been several SIGES, broken down geographically according to administrative regions or catchment areas.
Visited every month by more than 30,000 Internet users, from experts to the general public, SIGES are produced by a number of local partnerships bringing together the main public-sector actors to enhance knowledge across France. Depending on the region, BRGM is supported by the Water Agencies, Regions, Départements, DREALs and conurbation authorities.
A redesigned portal, with innovative tools for all audiences
In 2025, based on discussions with its partners and feedback from users, BRGM is developing SIGES to bring together information and data from the various regions, in a single web portal. The aim of this approach is to encourage the pooling of tools while preserving the specific features and characteristics of each region.
The redesigning was also an opportunity to modernise the portal, making it more accessible and easier to use, particularly on tablets and smartphones, while incorporating new web tools and services better suited to the needs of water managers.
SIGES home pages by region.
© BRGM
New features to discover
The new SIGES is divided into three main headings:
- Discover: educational content for the general public and students to better understand the challenges of hydrogeology.
- My SIGES: a space designed for professionals, offering access to more specific regional content: local data, groundwater bulletins and regional studies, specially designed for local authorities, government departments and experts.
- Tools: advanced features for exploring interactive maps, regional data sheets, geological models and the atlas of hydrogeological discovery trails, for in-depth data analysis.
Among the new features:
- The My Region Sheet, which can be used to extract hydrogeological data for communes, EPCIs (inter-municipal public entities) or départements.
- The Atlas of Hydrogeological discovery trails, highlighting remarkable geological sites.
- And geological models offering detailed visualisations, such as hydrogeological logs and cross-sections.
A collaborative, open-ended project
SIGES is more than just a website. It is part of a drive to share and develop knowledge at regional levels, to enable:
- data inventories and formatting (piezometric maps, hydrodynamic parameters),
- drawing up of hydrogeological summaries (BDLISA sheets),
- organising meetings between local actors (SAGE coordinators, DDT(M), etc.),
- educational activities for students, such as field trips and educational materials.
