French Alpine region places 5th river basin under highest drought alert

Authorities in France’s Haute-Savoie department placed a fifth river basin under the highest drought alert level Thursday as dry conditions persisted, according to the prefecture. The middle Arve basin, known as Arve median, was moved to crisis level, the fourth and highest stage of the department’s drought alert system. Authorities said the restrictions on water use already in effect across the department will remain in place until Oct. 30. Five basins are now under crisis-level restrictions: the lower and middle Arve, the Dranses, the Cheran and the Usses. The Fier and southwestern Lake Geneva basin remain under reinforced alert, while the Genevois and upper Arve basins are under alert. Under crisis-level measures, only priority water uses are permitted, including drinking water supply, the survival of aquatic species, watering animals, civil protection and public health and sanitation needs. The measures come amid persistent drought conditions in Haute-Savoie, where water levels have fallen significantly in several rivers, and some tributaries have dried up.