1. Selection criteria

Around 30 billion m ³ of freshwater are abstracted in mainland France (depending on the year), of which around 18% is used for drinking water supply.

2/3 of drinking water is produced from groundwater and 1/3 from surface water.

38,000 water catchments (95% groundwater and 5% surface water), 90% of which produce only 21% of volumes.

80% of surface water resources for drinking water supply are running water (rivers, canals) and 20% stagnant water (including 13% from dams and reservoirs).

145 liters of drinking water are used per capita per day, a value that has remained relatively stable...