Since 1997 their overall consumption declined by 20

Rain of the last few days did not remove the concern related to the drought. For the agricultural sector alone, the Government table a more invoice of EUR 700 million. A number that spoke yesterday of the President of the Republic, receiving in camera UMP deputies. Nicolas Sarkozy performs today in Charente a shift on this theme. The envelope which will be distributed as aid, tax exemptions and deferral of certain loans would go "beyond 700 million euros" for the years 2011-2012.

Behind the scenes, economic circles are also wonder about the multiplication of the "drought orders" issued by the prefects, a 60 to date. In Rhône-Alpes, for example, collecting water from wells and boreholes to irrigate green areas (sports fields and golf courses including) is prohibited. Tourism professionals follow closely the filling of dams and the level of rivers, fearing that their clients may swim this summer. At Vouglans, in the Jura, third largest artificial lake of France, the authorities anticipate conflicts of use between tourism activities, the needs of EDF for hydroelectricity and farmers.

Industrialists are also mobilized. With the sense, for many, already have worked to use less water. Since 1997, their overall consumption declined by 20. 32 Billion cubic metres of water collected in France to satisfy human activities, the industry takes more than 10.

An example Vallourec. Since 2008, the manufacturer believes have divided by 5 needs in water used for cooling tubes that it manufactures, and with rain water tanks in 2 plants. In the past, the plants of the group in Burgundy had to slow their production to consume less water. Officials hope not to have to start over.

In the paper, the concern is. The profession has been calculated that since the 1970s, water use was reduced by 80 in its factories, which leaves little opportunity in an emergency, if it is to stop a paper machine! If the situation worsens this summer, the debates will be hot between prefects and industrialists, who feel they have made more effort in recent years as farmers.

Distributors prepare also. Officials of the Auchan group have thus implemented a "drought plan." All points of sale were equipped with generators, whose functioning has been verified. Objective: avoid electrical load-shedding, that customers are shopping in stores not air-conditioned, and have to throw the contents of the fridges. If necessary, generators will also produce electricity for EDF, as this is already at peak times.

The SNCF, one of the largest French consumers of energy, slope fires for the moment are the number one problem. They cause interruptions of traffic as firefighters claim that the current is cut to intervene. Since the beginning of the month of may, the SNCF has recorded 3 times more fire than in the same period of 2010, and half even 8 times more North! The most affected regions are Ile-de-France, Brittany, the Lorraine and champagne-Ardenne. The means to address these problems are limited: the railwaymen are hunting the undesired application of brakes on freight trains - the most affected by the phenomenon - to avoid unwelcome Sparks, and classical actions of weeding and brushing are conducted.