Map of water table levels in France on 1 January 2020.
© BRGM
Effective rainfall was particularly heavy in the autumn and December was marked by a strong rise in water levels.
After a low-water period in 2019 that lasted longer than average across the whole of the country, the situation is improving considerably. Levels are now around average to very high. Several historic highs have even been recorded in Adour-Garonne over the last two months. The situation is less positive as regards the water tables in the Rhône valley. They are still suffering from a lack of rainfall over the last few years, exacerbated by high demand in summer, even though the beneficial effect of the recharge is becoming noticeable. The only exception, due to the lack of rainfall in December, is the Alsace water table to the south of Colmar, which has low yet stable levels.
Overall, the situation should continue to improve slowly in the coming weeks. This generally positive start to the recharge period means we can expect satisfactory levels for all the aquifers at the end of the winter.
