A pollution episode is underway in the Rhone Valley. The prefect has taken several measures to try to reduce the impact.
The Ardèche prefecture has published a press release concerning the “Combustion” type air pollution episode which is underway in the region.
“Stable high pressure conditions are maintained in our region, favoring the accumulation of pollutants, particularly from heating. The Rhône Valley is placed on orange alert.”
As a result, the Prefect has decided to implement several emergency measures which came into force on Sunday and Monday morning. They apply throughout the territory of the municipalities of the “Rhône Valley” air basin, that is to say all the towns along the Rhône valley but also in some valleys such as the Ouvèze valley. and Payre. Privas and its surroundings is thus part of the system.
The measures put in place
For transport, it has been decided to temporarily lower the maximum speeds authorized on all roads for all motor vehicles:
– 20 km/h, on roads where the maximum authorized speed is normally greater than or equal to 90 km/h.
– 10 km/h, on roads where the maximum authorized speed is normally equal to 80 km/h.
In the residential sector, it is forbidden to use wood and its derivatives as individual supplementary or decorative heating and it is required to control the temperature in the buildings (heating in winter at 18°C).
For public works and construction, it is requested to “put in place measures to reduce activity on dust-generating sites and put in place compensatory measures” (watering in particular) as well as “limit the use of thermal handling machines in favor of electric machines”.
These measures apply until the end of the pollution episode and the lifting of the prefectural system.
