Southern Corsica Faces Severe Water Shortages, Implements Strict Usage Controls

In the southern part of the island of Corsica, there has been a sharp decline in water reserves: reservoir levels have fallen to 19% of normal, prompting authorities to implement strict water-use controls and temporary supply outages.

According to the prefecture of southern Corsica, the highest risks are associated with the Ospedale and Figari dams, where water reserves remain at critically low levels compared with the droughts of 2003 and 2017.

Measures and Restrictions

In the region, there has been a full crackdown on water consumption: filling and emptying private and public pools is prohibited, washing cars at service stations, the use of water for boats and other watercraft, watering sports fields, golf courses, and hippodromes.

Such restrictions are not new this summer: some were introduced on August 19 and are now under tighter enforcement.

“Without a sharp reduction in consumption, more serious disruptions in the supply of drinking water are to be expected.”

The weather forecast does not promise a quick replenishment of water reserves, leaving the water-supply situation uncertain. This also makes firefighting more difficult: the risk of forest fires remains high amid the prolonged drought, authorities explain.

In addition, temporary and local water-supply outages have been introduced. The prefecture urges residents to use water responsibly and reduce consumption.

In the future, further regulatory steps and adaptations are expected depending on weather developments, as the stability of water supply depends on preserving water resources and the rational use of water by the population.