Drought in the Rhône: "crisis" level on the western half of the department

Background

Repeated heatwaves and a rain deficit since spring have caused the soil to dry up at record levels in the Rhône and the Lyon metropolis. Weather forecasts do not indicate any short-term improvement. This decision reinforces the measures already taken by the Decree of 21 July 2026, after consulting the Departmental Water Committee.

Why it's important

These restrictions affect people's daily actions — garden watering, car washing, pool filling — and can result in significant fines. It is essential to know the level applicable to its municipality, because the rules differ between the crisis zone and the Saône axis. The VigiEau platform allows to verify the common measures in force by municipality.

What Changes

The western half of the department goes to the level of "crisis": domestic sampling in streams, watering of green and sports spaces and filling of private pools are prohibited, regardless of the origin of the water. The Saône axis is in "enhanced alert", with fewer prohibitions but reductions of levies for all uses, domestic as well as economic.

Useful details

• 10 decree August 2026: "crisis" level on the western half of the department, "enhanced alert" on the municipalities along the Saône; this decision reinforces the 21 decree July 2026.
• Crisis zone (outside Saône axis), prohibitions: removals from watercourses and accompanying tablecloths for domestic use; watering of public or private green spaces; watering of domestic vegetable gardens during the day, from 9h to 20h; watering of public or private sports areas; filling and upgrading of private swimming pools; washing of facades, roofs and roads privately; washing of vehicles at home; washing of vehicles in gas stations, except water recycling equipment; open-circuit fountains; mistizers, except those installed by communities.
• Reinforced warning zone (Saône axis), prohibitions: watering of public or private green spaces; watering of domestic vegetable gardens from 11h to 18h; watering of sports areas from 11h to 18h; irrigation of crops from 11h to 18h, off-market and efficient systems or volume management; first filling of private swimming pools (except works started before the warning); washing of vehicles privately at home; washing of vehicles in service stations, off-high-pressure systems or water recycling; washing of facades and roofs, off-high-pressure equipment; open-circuit fountains.
• Penalties: contravention of 5th class, up to 1 500 € for an individual and 7 500 € for a legal person; agents of the French Biodiversity Office are deployed in the territory.
• Exceptions: the drinking of domestic and livestock animals remains a priority use allowed at all levels; farmers irrigating with the water of the Rhone River or with authorized and compliant water bodies are not subject to restrictions; agricultural irrigation from surface waters remains possible in a limited way with economical practices (micro-irrigation, dripping), under reduction of schedules or volume.
• The underground tablecloths of Garon and Eastern Lyons remain satisfactory: only samples intended for professional activities are possible there without restriction.