La sécheresse de 1989

Drought in France in 1989

¹ Secrétaire du groupe sécheresse de la Mission interministérielle de l'eau, Secrétariat d'Etat auprès du premier ministre chargé de l'environnement et de la prévention des risques technologiques et naturels majeurs, Service de l'eau
² Directeur de recherches, ORSTOM, Département des eaux continentales

Abstract

The 1989 french drought will remain in the memories as one of the longest and most severe of this century. It affected many economical activities, and at first agriculture and power plants. Water resources also suffered from high pollution problems and from the dry up of several streams. Yet, drinking water distribution could be ensured in most cases, with no major difficulties. The lessons drawn from such an event will have a strong influence on all the future water policies.