Conséquences qualitatives de la sécheresse sur l'alimentation en eau potable

Qualitative consequences of the drought on supply of drinking water

Laboratoire central de la Lyonnaise des eaux, Le Pecq

Abstract

The impact of the drought on the quality of water supplies is particularly hard felt in relation to superficial flowing waters.

On the one hand the direct impact can be seen in the concentration of pollution and, on the other hand, the indirect impact through the consequences of intense sunshine, favouring a biological explosion, stimulated at the same time by the concentration of nutriments. This bio-acceleration leads to degradation of resources, notably due to the abundance of special dissolved organic matter giving rise to unpleasant odours and tastes. These faults result from or generate operating difficulties for drinking water systems.

The anomalies observed in consumption in 1976 in the Paris region illustrate these difficulties very well.