Experts Converge on Urgent Water Management Challenges in France
Experts highlight urgent water management issues in France amid climate change and urbanization.
Key Points
- • Water management challenges in France have escalated due to climate change and urbanization.
- • Proactive measures in Hauts-de-Seine aim to improve Seine water quality.
- • Experts advocate for innovative urban designs to enhance rainwater management.
- • Global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030.
On June 25, 2025, during the Entretien Albert-Kahn, experts discussed the burgeoning water management challenges in France exacerbated by climate change and urbanization. Carine Dartiguepeyrou, Secretary of the Albert-Kahn Conversations, emphasized that water management has become a significant source of anxiety, particularly due to recent extreme weather events like flooding and droughts affecting various regions, such as Pas-de-Calais and Pyrénées-Orientales.
Grégoire de la Roncière, responsible for water and sanitation in Hauts-de-Seine, shared that 17 of the 36 municipalities in the area are situated along the Seine, which is critical for the region's water management strategy. He highlighted proactive measures being implemented to enhance water quality, which include reducing wastewater discharge and improving stormwater management systems.
Christian Piel, an urban planner, proposed the adoption of 'sponge city' concepts to facilitate greater rainwater infiltration, suggesting a move away from traditional underground pipe systems. He argued this approach is essential for adapting to flooding risks and maintaining water availability.
The discussion also spotlighted the pressing need to address wastewater management, with Sylvie Driollet and Raymond Loiseleur addressing existing infrastructure challenges in Hauts-de-Seine that involve 629 kilometers of sanitation canals and 38 pumping stations focusing on controlling micro-pollutants. Marine Calmet, from the NGO Wild Legal, called for the legal recognition of water bodies to ensure greater environmental protections, citing successful global precedents.
Virginie Alonzi forecasted a dramatic rise in global water demand, projecting it could exceed supply by 40% by 2030 unless innovative sustainability measures are adopted.
The consensus emerging from the event underscored the necessity of viewing water not merely as a resource but as a common good that requires collaborative management for future sustainability.