Water management: How the French do it

Rhône River in Lyon, France. Photo: Michael Cosgrove

How is France progressing toward the EU-wide goal to ensure the majority of water systems are clean by 2015? Flesh & Stone writer Michael Cosgrove checks in with a lead water data overseer for an inside look at how the country monitors and protects the health of its rivers, lakes and underground water supplies.

Olivier Fontaine coordinates study data for the technical data unit of the Rhône-Mediterranean-Corsica branch of the ‘Agence de l’eau’ (Water Agency), the French body that oversees the use and conditions of all water resources in France. The branch headquarters are in Lyon.

Fontaine has a privileged overview of just how polluted French water is, who is responsible for that pollution, what kinds of pollution are to be found in the water and methods of combating pollution.

Surrounded by piles of files and documents, Fontaine described the role of his agency from his office overlooking the Rhône River.

When and why was the agency created and how does it function?

Many people will be surprised to learn that it was created as far back as 1964, and the principle of “the polluter pays” was adopted as the Modus Operandi. People think nowadays that polluter/payer is a new idea which just applies to industry and agriculture. But we all pollute, and the private use of water is a non-negligeable source of pollution as well, just like the others.

Everyone pays for water of course, but we have developed a policy of compensating industries which work to clean up their act, and the same goes for city administrations and agricultural concerns. We do not receive government funding, although we are a government agency. Our funding comes mainly from fees collected from water bills.

In organizational terms, the national territory is carved up into six zones, each of which has its own agency which controls activity within its boundaries and liaises with other agencies on common issues like, for example, rivers which cross two or more zones.

What is the legal framework within which you work, and who sets your objectives and operational priorities?

We began as a localized entity, but over the years the European Union has become a major motor of efforts to clean up water supplies across the continent. Our agency, like those in all countries, is held to a pan-European directive which came into effect in 2000. The directive obliges us to ensure that all water sources are satisfactorily clean by 2015, although some severely polluted zones, like Brittany in France, have time-limit derogations according to the seriousness of the problems encountered. We consider that this initiative has had a positive focusing and galvanizing effect on our work.

And the EU is very serious about the directive. They have the right to hand down extremely heavy penalties to abusive polluters and they use that right quite often. Fines can, and do, reach many millions of euros.

Could you describe the agency’s day-to-day operations?

The keyword here is sampling. France is dotted with thousands of control points along rivers, lakeshores and in underground sources. The zone we are in, for example, carries out over 1.5 million analyses each year.

We analyze the quantity of organic matter, azote-based compounds, nitrates, phosphore, sediment content, pesticides, organic pollutants and hydrocarbons, to name a few. We also analyze the quantity and quality of fauna and flora in the zone, including fish and other water-based creatures, and plant life.

In instances where we discover anomalies, we track down the cause and try to find solutions to the problem, using the compensation methods I mentioned earlier, if possible. We also advise on practical solutions to the pollution source, such as the use of raised banks of land to limit pesticide run-off into water sources. There is still a lot of pesticide use in agriculture.

Which are the principal sources of pollution?

Agriculture and industry, without a doubt. But private individuals also create potential problems, and that’s why all population centers near water sources are obliged to install latest-generation epurators and filters to stop urban pollution from being re-injected into water sources.

Nitrates are a big offender, although they are most dangerous when they run into the Atlantic or Mediterranean, where they are a major factor in the wildfire spread of algae which can become toxic, as has happened in Brittany.

Are you working on the effects that any change in the world climate may have had, or may have in the future?

Yes, we are currently evaluating possible effects of climate change on water resources, but in strict terms of pollution there is no cause for alarm at this point. The only potential risk at this time has less to do with pollution but with the nuclear industry. French nuclear power plants rely on cold water to cool down their reactors, so any augmentation in temperature could lead to a situation in which cooling reactors becomes difficult.

So the big question is, are water supplies heavily polluted and what are the main risks for the future?

Surprisingly, things are not as bad as the general public seems to think. The constant surveillance and tracking of pollution and polluters has had an incontestably positive effect. Nothing is perfect but, apart from some heavily industrialised areas, the water in France is acceptably clean. But we do have to keep up the pressure for things to remain that way and, where possible, improve things further.

Pesticides and nitrates remain a problem in France, which is a major agricultural producer, with nitrates having reached underground water supplies in large quantities.

One possible future pollution source which is being considered as potentially serious is the introduction into water of medical drugs residue. The most prominent risk here is oestrogen, which comes from the various types of contraceptive pill. Oestrogen is known, for example, to lead to figh changing their sexual gender. We are keeping a close eye on this problem.

As I said though, I am globally optimistic that we have things under control.

Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us.

Interview conducted, condensed and translated by Michael Cosgrove.