The people of Hyéros have always baptized Porquerolles, Port-Cros, and Le Levant, the Golden Islands. And for good reason, they are three jewels of the Hyérois territory that everyone wants to preserve.
This natural wealth of which the Port-Cros National Park is the guarantor also has a price. That of ensuring the control of water resources, which are all the more precious when they are under pressure.
priority
On the eve of the start of the summer season, the water situation of the islands, although now perfectly under control, pushes the TPM Metropolis and the city, aware of the challenges of water resources on an island, to anticipate for “meeting the population’s drinking water supply as a priority.”
How ? By placing the three islands on drought alert from June 15, the mayor, in view of the data on the water situation of the islands, declines the prefectural decree which has placed the Var on drought alert since April 22. Immediate consequences: measures to restrict the use of water, measures specific to each of the islands from June 15 will be taken. And this, until October 15th. (read our box).
The reasons?
“There are two effects that play on the reduction of resources: it has rained very little, and the Covid effect gives very high attendance even if we regulate it through the modifications that we have introduced in maritime transport. to Porquerolles under the new public service delegation, answers the mayor Jean-Pierre Giran. The combination of these two effects makes the problem of water resources in Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant relatively acute.”
Besides, “the water reserves are not replenished, at least as expected. (They reached a historic low in April, editor’s note), (read below).
“The water tables are very low”, confirms Cédric L’Henaff, head of network service at Métropole TPM. “We have now reached a level which has led me to anticipate and apply the precautionary principle”confirms the mayor.
The objective of these measures is toreserve priority use for sanitary water”specifies this metropolitan official.
No one wants to relive the water problem of last summer in Porquerolles (…) “As we want to be more in anticipation than in reaction, a certain number of measures will be taken to avoid difficulties”, says the mayor.
But the situation being able to evolve, the first magistrate does not exclude, “if there were additional difficulties, to strengthen if necessary the device / alert and the restrictions even more”
Example: for the moment, the filling of swimming pools and basins is subject to authorization by the mayor.
The solution: the sea-line in the summer of 2023
In the event of an enhanced drought alert level, it would be prohibited. Residents, traders, boaters and tourists will also be informed by the city of the restriction measures by posting. But they will have to wait another two summers before they no longer fear the threat of a shortage. The solution ?
All eyes are on the sea-line project, undertaken by the city with the support of La Métropole, which “Today understands perfectly that this is an absolute priority”according to the mayor.
This equipment should be operational in the summer of 2023.” The work should start in September 2022 provided that the State services have given all the authorizations “, confides the head of the water service of the Metropolis.
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To know
Several measures applicable from from June 15 until October 15 will be stopped to limit the use of water and promote drinking water needs on the islands of Port-Cros, Porquerolles and Levant Island.
will be prohibited in Porquerolles and Port Cros: washing of tracks, motor vehicles, boat hulls and decks except for careening operations, watering of lawns, and that of flowers, flower beds, trees, shrubs and vegetable gardens on will be during the day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drinking water supply at the port of Porquerolles and that of Port-Cros will no longer be possible from June 15.
In Porquerollesthree additional restriction measures: a flow restriction of 60 cubic meters per day for all users of the port of Porquerolles is applied.
Withdrawals from the Oliviers well are limited to 60 cubic meters per day, and pumping from the groundwater for uses – washing the tracks and supplying drinking water at the port of Porquerolles – is prohibited on the island of Porquerolles.
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