Continued drought is causing problems in large parts of France – now also a nuclear power plant. Because the river Rhône has too little water, the oven of Saint-Alban has to be smothered considerably. Otherwise, the heated cooling water poses a danger to flora and fauna in the water body.
At the Saint-Alban factory, production takes place over the Whitsun weekend was temporarily reduced from 1300 megawatts to 260 megawatts, according to the operator EDF. To protect the biodiversity in the river, the discharge and return of the cooling water is strictly regulated. In the past, French nuclear power plants had to be throttled during hot spells, but this usually happens in the middle of summer. This year, the Blayais nuclear power plant on the Garonne River was shut down in early May due to low water levels.
Water restrictions in almost every third department
Due to the drought, water restrictions are now in place in 29 of the 101 departments. Among other things, the watering of gardens and fields is rationed; Cars can no longer be washed and private swimming pools can no longer be filled.
Since Tuesday, the Hautes-Alpes department has also been affected, which contains the highest mountains in France, with the exception of Mont Blanc. The issue is particularly sensitive in mountain areas, as many winter sports areas build artificial snow reservoirs, which are increasingly used due to climate change.
The month of May was the hottest in France since the weather records started, with an average temperature of 17.8 degrees. The highest temperatures were reached in Ajaccio in Corsica with 36.2 degrees and in Albi near Toulouse with 35.4 degrees. By mid-July, the soil will be as dry as usual almost everywhere in the country. It has rained about 45 percent less than usual in the past three months.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
