Map of aquifer levels in mainland France on 15 February 2026.
© BRGM
Trends observed on piezometers on 15 February 2026.
© BRGM
Trends
On 15 February, recharging was under way, with 77% of levels rising.
Recharging has resumed for the less responsive aquifers in the Rhône-Saône corridor, western Artois and around the edge of the Paris Basin. The trend is reversing very slowly, but groundwater levels remain stable or are dropping slightly in the least responsive aquifers in eastern Artois and the central part of the Paris Basin.
Substantial recharge events have been observed for most of the more responsive aquifers. However, rainfall has not been very effective in recharging groundwater bodies. Across northeastern France and in the Jura, the first precipitation events first wet soils following three months of drought, before percolating at depth. Intense rainfall over a short lapse of time has often led to soil saturation, increasing runoff instead of infiltration.
Situation observed on piezometers on 15 February 2026.
© BRGM
The groundwater situation
Groundwater levels in Artois, the Paris Basin, Sundgau and the Rhône-Saône corridor remain unchanged due to their typically slow response times. They remain satisfactory, from moderately low in Bas Dauphiné and Champagne, to moderately high in Beauce. There are still some persistent low to very low levels in northern Champagne.
Recharge events have maintained the levels high to very high in the more responsive aquifers in southeastern France and Corsica, and improved others. Groundwater levels are above monthly norms across the southern half of France, the western and southern parts of the Armorican Massif and in Corsica. From the north of the Armorican Massif to the Jura, groundwater levels range from close to normal to moderately low. Due to dry spells, rainfall events were not always effective in recharging aquifers during the autumn and early winter.
Groundwater contribution to recent flooding
Current flooding is mainly caused by soils being saturated, leading to heavy surface runoff and rivers overflowing.
Current levels in the less responsive groundwater bodies, such as the chalk and tertiary formations in the Paris Basin, Artois and Rhône-Saône corridor, have not reached high or very high levels. This means that these groundwater bodies are not contributing to current flooding. This partly explains why flooding has been less than that observed in the Artois region during the winter of 2023–2024.
The risk of flooding from rising groundwater levels in the less responsive aquifers is very low over the coming months, as they are responding very slowly to rainfall infiltration. This low risk is good news, as floods caused by rising groundwater levels recede slowly, meaning that the land can remain submerged for several weeks.
Groundwater levels in the more responsive aquifers in the Finistère basement, in Morbihan and western Loire-Atlantique, and aquifers in southeastern France and Corsica, were already high to very high at the end of January. These groundwater bodies may have contributed to the flooding in February, as was already the case in January.
In other areas with more responsive aquifers, groundwater levels were not high enough at the beginning of February to play an active role in flooding. However, intense rainfall in February contributed effectively to groundwater recharge in the more responsive aquifers, such as in southwestern France and the Massif Central, which are currently experiencing peak flooding.
There has been a lack of rainfall in northeastern France since November or even October 2025. Precipitation in February first wet the soils before infiltrating to any depth. Groundwater levels in the limestone aquifer to the west of Lorraine and in the Jura began to rise rapidly from 10 February, reaching high levels in mid-February. The sandstone aquifer in eastern Lorraine and aquifers in Alsace are less responsive to rainfall and remain at levels close to normal.
The more responsive groundwater bodies that are showing high levels have contributed to river flooding either through groundwater emerging above the ground surface or draining into rivers, or indirectly by saturating soils, reducing rainfall infiltration and contributing to runoff. Flooding from karstic springs may also occur on the southern and western edges of the Massif Central, contributing to the flooding of various rivers. The risk of flooding is high while cumulative precipitation remains high.
Forecasts
The forecast for the end of winter is relatively good for the less responsive aquifers. However, the end of the recharge period remains uncertain, as well as the forecast for summer 2026.
With regard to the more responsive aquifers with higher than normal levels, such as in Corsica, the southern half of France and the Armorican Massif, seasonal forecasts are favourable. But they remain uncertain for the longer term, because levels depend on cumulative rainfall in late winter and spring. Spring rainfall will be essential in maintaining the levels above normal for as long as possible. In the event of prolonged and intense drought, responsive aquifers can become empty in a matter of weeks. Groundwater levels in Roussillon and Languedoc are expected to improve compared to the four previous summers.
Groundwater situation: a new map and more frequent bulletins
The BRGM groundwater status report, which is eagerly awaited by the public every month, is being revamped. It will now be published twice a month, and the map will have a new colour scheme to make it easier to read.
As of 1 July 2025, the comparative map between the current month and the same month of the previous year will also be reissued with the new colour scheme.
Map drawn up by BRGM on 18 February 2026, based on data acquired up to 15 February 2026.
Data source: ADES (ades.eaufrance.fr) / Hydroportail (hydro.eaufrance.fr) / Background map © IGN. Data producers and contributors: APRONA, BRGM, Conseil Départemental de la Vendée, Conseil Départemental des Landes, Conseil Départemental du Lot, EPTB Vistre Vistrenque, Parc Naturel Régional des Grandes Causses, Syndicat Mixte d’Etudes et de Travaux de l’Astien (SMETA), Syndicat Mixte pour la protection et la gestion des nappes souterraines de la plaine du Roussillon (SMNPR).
This map shows the global indicators reflecting the average fluctuations of the aquifers. They are based on point indicators collected at groundwater monitoring points (by means of piezometers).
The "Aquifer levels" indicator compares the current month’s figures with those of the same months in the entire record, i.e. at least 15 years of data and sometimes up to as much as 100 years of data. It is divided into 7 classes, from the lowest level (in red) to the highest (in dark blue).
The grey areas correspond to areas without unconfined aquifers, i.e. with an impermeable or semi-permeable layer above the aquifer, and/or sectors with a very low density of measuring points. This last case primarily concerns mountainous areas with small, heterogeneous aquifers.
The "Evolution of levels" indicator reflects the variation of the water level of the past month compared to the two previous months (stable, increasing or decreasing).
These global indicators reflect general situations and trends and do not take into account possible local disparities.