BRGM, a public body with ground and subsurface expertise, monitors the aquifers in France. Previously published on a monthly basis, its groundwater status report will change in June 2025.
From now on, the groundwater situation map will be published every 15 days, with the situation updated on the 1st and 15th of each month. It also features a new colour scheme to make it easier to read.
Map of aquifer levels in mainland France on 15 June 2025.
© BRGM
Trends observed on piezometers on 15 June 2025.
© BRGM
Trends
80% of levels were down, compared with 75% at the end of May. Rainfall was not very effective, with stormy weather leading to run-off rather than infiltration into the soil. Most of the rain that did infiltrate was taken up by vegetation.
Levels were still falling on 15 June in the northern half of the country following the persistent lack of rainfall since February.
Levels are generally falling in the south of the area. Depletion extended between May and early June, now including all aquifers. A few rising or stable levels have been observed in wet areas with reactive aquifers. Aquifers in the upper Garonne, the Alpine valleys and the Rhône valley are also fed by melting snow.
Situation observed on piezometers on 15 June 2025.
© BRGM
Groundwater situation
The situation of many reactive aquifers deteriorated slightly between the newsletters of 1 June and of 15 June. These aquifers are affected by a lack of effective rainfall.
The groundwater situation remains mixed:
- normal to below normal levels in the reactive aquifers in the north;
- above normal in inertial aquifers (Paris Basin, Rhône-Saône corridor);
- above normal in the reactive aquifers in the south and Corsica.
Aquifer levels in the Roussillon region and Corbières Massif are still a matter of concern, from low to very low. Rainfall in recent months, particularly in March, has significantly improved local conditions. However, total rainfall is still far from sufficient to make up for the shortfall.
Forecasts
Depletion is expected to continue at the end of June and throughout the summer unless significant rainfall is recorded in areas with reactive aquifers.
The current highly favourable situation in the inertial aquifers of the Paris Basin and the eastern Lyonnais region points to above-normal levels over the summer.
The outlook is very poor for the Roussillon plain aquifers.
Predictions remain more uncertain for the other aquifers: rather pessimistic for the reactive aquifers in the north and centre of France and optimistic for those in the south (except in Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude).
New colour scheme for the groundwater situation map
Since it was first published in 1998, the national groundwater newsletter map has used the same colour scheme to represent the different groundwater situations. Originally designed to be printed, these colours are now proving ill-suited to digital media.
New colours suitable for digital and televised media
With the growth in online readership, particularly on the BRGM website, social networks and the MétéEAU Nappes platform, a new version of which has recently been published online, the need arose to redesign the map's graphic charter to meet current requirements in terms of display, clarity and accessibility.
At the end of June, the groundwater situation newsletter was also included in France Télévisions' Weather and Climate Journal. To ensure optimum consistency across digital and televised media, the new colour scheme was established in collaboration with France Télévisions.
Making the map more accessible
A number of adjustments have been made in support of this modernisation:
- simpler colours, with a colour scheme now based on two gradients, making it easier to read and interpret;
- reducing the saturation of some colours to limit aggressive visual effects;
- improved visual accessibility in line with digital accessibility recommendations (contrast, improved suitability for different types of colour blindness).
These changes are part of an ongoing process to modernise the tools used to monitor and disseminate information on water resources. Their aim is to ensure clearer, more inclusive communication in line with today's digital standards.
Map drawn up by BRGM on 18 June 2025, based on data acquired up to 15 June 2025.
Data source: ADES database (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.