Map of water table levels in France on 1 May 2019.
© BRGM
In April 2019, the trend reversed, with levels generally falling across France. The recharge period is coming to an end, which is a normal situation at this time of year. However, heavy rains in April improved the situation locally, prolonging the recharge of some responsive groundwater tables, especially in northern Alsace and the east of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region.
Groundwater levels are generally below or at their average levels for this time of year. The levels of several reservoirs are already moderately low to low. Some areas in north-eastern France, e.g. southern Alsace, Burgundy, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the Berry, have rather problematic groundwater levels, sometimes close to the minimum recorded for April. The situation is not very encouraging for this period.
The levels reflect low recharge volumes in 2018-2019 due to low and sometimes late rainfall in autumn and winter. In 2019 the high-water period was recorded between early February and April. It should be noted that there was no winter recharge in some areas, particularly in Normandy, Île-de-France, Burgundy and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Lastly, levels are generally lower than in the previous year (April 2018), which was generally satisfactory at the end of winter.
