The Loire-Bretagne Water Agency launched a major study on Thursday, October 3, which should make it possible to anticipate future climate challenges.
Access to water is a key issue for the years to come. Prime Minister Michel Barnier mentioned this on Tuesday October 1 in his general policy declaration, calling for “a major national conference” on this theme, recalled the president of the Loire-Bretagne basin committee Thierry Burlot, Thursday October 3.
“Access to water is health, drinking water, biodiversity, but also economic development, agriculture, energy. With climate change, we know that things are not going well improve. It is therefore necessary to talk about sobriety, conservation of water resources, good management, sharing… Today more than ever, water can become a subject of tension. a major political issue.”
Thierry Burlot (President of the Loire-Bretagne basin committee)
It is in this context that the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency announced that it would conduct, over the next three years, a study on “hydrology, environments, uses and climate” (HMUC) on the Loire axis. .
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According to the explanations of Loïc Obled, who took on the role of director of the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency a few days ago (Martin Gutton having been appointed interministerial delegate in charge of water in agriculture), this study should make it possible to analyze “how we consume river water, how this watercourse functions and how it would function if no use came to modify its functioning, what are the volumes of water necessary for the environment is not affected in a structural way… And we add to that the modeling, the climate change scenarios.”
Objective: to achieve a balance between the volumes of water that can be withdrawn and the needs of different uses.
“Doing together”
This study, based on scientific analyses, should shed light on public and political debate. “In the field of water, we cannot do things against each other. On the contrary, we will have to do things together,” insisted Thierry Burlot. This is why several committees bringing together water stakeholders, local authorities, and “territorial experts” will monitor this project. Companies (Antea Group, Suez Consulting, WAM!) will provide elements of knowledge, consultation and mediation, and will be responsible for communicating and popularizing the technical elements.
Finally, consultation is planned throughout the study. Several meetings and workshops will be organized, so that all stakeholders are heard, taken into account, and fears and misunderstandings are resolved. “We also have the possibility of organizing special interviews on request, if we are contacted by stakeholders who wish to be heard,” also specified Alain Sappey, head of the planning department of the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency. .
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