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Most French groundwater below normal after winter

by Reuters
Friday, 16 March 2012 16:57 GMT

PARIS, March 16 (Reuters) - Groundwater levels in France are mostly below normal after a dry February accentuated a lack of rainfall since the autumn, meaning some water reserves were not replenished over the winter, France's geological research office said on Friday.

As of March 1, 80 percent of underground water reserves had below-average levels, and just over half were showing a downward trend since the start of the year, the BRGM said in a note.

The proportion of below-normal water reserves was equivalent to that recorded by the BRGM after a spring drought and during a dry autumn last year.

Groundwater levels usually recover during the autumn and winter as rainfall tends to be more abundant and there is less vegetation to prevent water from penetrating into the earth.

"We observe that, at a national level, the period of winter replenishment of reserves has not taken effect yet," the BRGM said in an update on groundwater levels.

"The absence of replenishment during the early months of 2012 risks affecting the capacity to use underground water in the coming months."

Rainfall in February was less than a quarter of normal levels in most of France, contributing to a shortfall in beneficial rain since September, it said.

Drinking water represents the biggest draw on groundwater reserves in France, with 3.6 billion cubic metres pumped annually compared with about 1.3 billion for industry and 1 billion for agriculture, which derive the bulk of their pumped water from surface sources like rivers.

Surface and ground water are interdependent, however, notably in summer when aquifers maintain minimum river flows.

Last year's spring drought brought water restrictions in most French regions and reduced harvests in the European Union's top grain producer and exporter.

After a severe cold spell at the end of January and start of February that led to some crop losses, attention on grain markets has turned to the risk of dry conditions.

Drought is already becoming a concern again elsewhere in western Europe, with Spain seeing its driest winter in decades and Britain facing lowest groundwater levels in at least 35 years. (Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Anthony Barker)

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