The Drought Expertise Unit, bringing together the various interlocutors of the water sector in Wallonia, met on Tuesday under the aegis of the Wallonia Regional Crisis Center to take stock of the drought situation in Wallonia. Five new municipalities in the south of the country (Rochefort, Libramont, Durbuy, Libin and Vresse-sur-Semois) have, since the meeting of July 5, put in place measures to restrict the consumption of mains water, indicated to Belga Stéphanie Ernoux, crisis communication strategy coordinator at the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW).
“These are above all anticipatory measures that some mayors have taken as a precaution“, explains Stephanie Ernoux. “This does not mean that water consumption is currently higher there, contrary to what one might think.“
Limitation scheme in seven municipalities
In total, seven municipalities in the south of the country (Stoumont, Theux, Rochefort, Libramont, Durbuy, Libin and Vresse-sur-Semois) now apply a system limiting water consumption to household use. Offenders are liable to administrative fines.
In addition, inspectors from the Nature and Forests Division (DNF) of the SPW have intensified their prevention visits to holiday camps and youth camps. “They raise awareness of the proper use of water in order to avoid, in particular, that water stored for a long time in cans is consumed“, explains the crisis communication coordinator at the Public Service of Wallonia.They also warn of the risk of fire.“