France Imposes Water Rationing Amid Drought Fears
Date: 04-May-07
Country: FRANCE
The farm ministry said several departments -- administrative units similar to English counties -- were already suffering from a rain deficit.
"Successive drought periods over the last few years, combined with above-normal temperatures, require vigilance and anticipation," the farm ministry said in a statement.
Three departments where the ministry imposed curbs were around Paris. One was in west-central France and the other four in the southeast, the ministry said.
Weather forecaster Meteo France said on Thursday the water table was low in most of the country and the situation could become problematic in the coming months if the lack of rain continued.
France imposed rationing in around half of the country last summer, with measures ranging from bans on washing cars and filling swimming pools to limits on agricultural use.