Drought: Syntec-Ingénierie calls for the integration of water management from the project design stage

For Syntec-Ingénierie, the drought affecting France is no longer a seasonal difficulty that can be addressed solely through temporary measures. The professional federation believes that water scarcity must now be considered a long-term constraint in planning policies and project design.

Rivers and groundwater under pressure

June 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in France by Météo-France. This heat, combined with a deficit of effective rainfall, accelerated soil drying and the decrease in river flows.

According to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, a quarter of small streams were dry by mid-July, an unprecedented situation since the start of national monitoring in 2012. Nearly a third of measuring stations also showed flows lower than the minimums observed over the last twenty years at the same time.

The situation regarding groundwater levels is also deteriorating. As of July 1, 2026, the French Geological Survey (BRGM) noted that 93% of monitoring points were falling and that 54% of observation points were below monthly averages. The BRGM specifies, however, that the national situation remained more favorable than in 2022 and 2023, with significant disparities between different regions.

According to information released by Syntec-Ingénierie, nearly 100.000 residents already depend on drinking water supply systems. The strain is also affecting agriculture, industrial activities, natural environments, and energy production.

Consequences for economic and energy activities

Usage restrictions may limit agricultural irrigation, the operation of certain industrial facilities, the filling of swimming pools, vehicle washing, or the watering of green spaces. Their specific content varies according to the level of severity determined locally by the prefects.

High temperatures and lower flow rates in some rivers also led EDF to temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors in mid-July: Golfech 2, Bugey 3 and Chooz 2. These shutdowns were intended to comply with environmental regulations governing water withdrawals and thermal discharges, without compromising the safety of the facilities.

The dryness of the soil and vegetation simultaneously increases the risk of fires starting and spreading. For Syntec-Ingénierie, the combination of these consequences shows that the response can no longer be limited to emergency management.

Making water a central parameter of planning

The federation calls on project owners, local authorities, developers, and designers to integrate resource availability from the earliest stages of projects. This approach should, in particular, allow for the assessment of needs, existing uses, local supply capacities, and the project's impact on water sharing.

This planning must also take into account the entire water cycle. Territories must be able to cope with periods of drought, but also with episodes of heavy rainfall and the risk of flooding, two phenomena exacerbated by climate change.

The Water Plan, launched in 2023, sets in particular a target of reducing withdrawals by 10% by 2030 compared to the average observed between 2018 and 2020. It also plans to take action on network losses, the development of non-conventional waters, water quality and local governance of the resource.

Solutions to be adapted to the characteristics of each territory

Syntec-Ingénierie identifies several areas in which engineering skills can be mobilized: reducing leaks in drinking water networks, designing more energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure, territorial studies on the uses and availability of the resource, water sharing and reuse of treated wastewater.

The federation emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Responses must be tailored to the hydrological characteristics, economic activities, population density, and existing infrastructure of each region.

According to Syntec-Ingénierie, 42.000 engineers in the sector are already working on projects related to climate change. The federation hopes that these skills will be more actively utilized upstream in the decision-making process, at the stage when projects are being planned, selected, and funded.

“Climate change is forcing us to change our approach. Engineering has a crucial role to play in conserving water, adapting our infrastructure, and helping regions build resilience to these recurring crises. The objectives of reducing water withdrawals, improving the distribution of water use, and reusing treated wastewater are achievable, but they require taking decisive action now.” – Michel Kahan, President of Syntec-Ingénierie

Image illustrating the article via Depositphotos.com.