La surexploitation des aquifères du Roussillon : une ressource patrimoniale en danger

Groundwater Overexploitation in Roussillon floodplain : a major problem for the future

¹ Nancy Université, CERPA EA-1135 23, boulevard Albert 1er, BP 3397, 54015 Nancy
² Hydrogéologue, expert consultant 13, avenue Victor Hugo, 66430 Bompas

Auteur de correspondance : Pierre.Serrat@univ-nancy2.fr

Abstract

All around the Mediterranean Sea, freshwater resource is not important. This is particularly the case for the Roussillon floodplain (France), located in the South of France, near Spain. Because of population growth, agricultural practice, tourism development, groundwater pumping has become very excessive for three decades. The consequences are clear : all the levels of aquifers are going down, and the quality of water getting worse. This is a serious problem because this water is renewed with an average long period of about 5000 to 7000 years. In many wells of the plain, lower levels of aquifers and pollution by nitrates are observed. These signs are alarming. Near the Mediterranean Sea and the tourist stations of Leucate and Port-Barcarès, the penetration of the salted bevel has even been noticed. Urgently, a better management of water resource is required. Several solutions can be put forward such as the use of water coming from karst tanks of the Corbieres Mountains, as well as the treatment of river water, stored by means of existing dams (Vinça, Agly) with a volume 55 Mm3. These alternative solutions have a real cost : the price for a sustainable management of the groundwater. There is no doubt that the European Directive for Water (2000/60/CE) will constrain to a more rational management of these precious resources.