France bans sales of garden pools as drought in south reaches "crisis" level

The southern French region of Pyrénées-Orientales, will ban the sale of garden pools from tomorrow as well as car-washing, garden-watering and pool-filling as the area enters ‘crisis’ level drought. According to reports, around 2,000 conurbations risk losing their water supply.

Three other areas are already in ‘crisis’ and around half the country at alert levels.

Last month, President Macron launched a 50-measure water conservation plan, featuring leak fixes, adapting the way farmers and industry use water, and introducing high-usage tariffs.

Scientists have warned swathes of Europe including parts of France, Spain and Italy could brace for drought impacts after little winter rainfall.