Thirty-six farms from the Causse Méjean interested in installing rainwater tanks

The actors gathered on the Causse Méjean to sign the water resources protocol. FREE NOON – M. P.

A memorandum of understanding was signed on January 31, 2024 between the Adour-Garonne Water Agency, the State, the Department, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. agriculture, the Copage association and the Gorges Causses Cévennes community of communes to install rainwater tanks on the Causse Méjean.

Water that falls from the sky as a natural resource, the farmers of the Causse Méjean will soon be able to benefit from it. A financial memorandum of understanding has been signed on January 31, 2024 between the Adour-Garonne Water Agency, the State, the Department, the Chamber of Agriculture, the Copage association, Safer Occitanie and the Gorges Causses Cévennes community of communes, in the premises of the Gaec de Hyelzas, in the heart of Méjean. In order to equip farmers with rainwater recovery tanks, with a variable capacity from 60 to 200 m3, depending on the needs of farmers.

Elected officials relieved about water resources 

Vincent Pratlong, mayor of Hures-la-Parade, recalled the history: "We have known for centuries the problem of water on the Causse Méjean. The supply of drinking water, half a century ago, enabled the development of the territory. Today, climate data is changing and we must show resilience." On February 26, a public meeting will bring together volunteer operators, with the launch of the first projects in spring 2024. 

Henri Couderc, the president of the local intercommunal body, agreed:"We understand the immense challenge represented by the efficiency of drinking water distribution. We operate more than 200 km of networks, 30 reservoirs for 729 subscribers, with a daily requirement of 350 m3, supplied by a reservoir of 46,000 m3, to cover the three months of summer. ;nbsp;Climate change obliges, the situation has changed somewhat: "The water resource no longer allows us to respond. The challenge is to reduce pressure on withdrawals from drinking water networks now under almost permanent tension", explained the president. With 60% of water captured by agricultural operations, a reaction was necessary: ​​"We relied on our past experience but also know-how traditional of our elders. They knew how to collect in cisterns and use water sparingly,insisted the president.

An investment of 1.5 M€

Of the 57 farms on the Causse Méjean, 36 are interested in the rainwater capture operation. The first phase of work will make it possible to equip eight farms with tanks or lavognes for a volume of 800 m3, with a total cost of €337,510. Co-financed by the water agency at 70%, the State at 5%, the Department at 5%, the farmers will cover the difference. On the other hand, 25 other farmers will benefit from a diagnosis carried out by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Copage association, and will also benefit from subsidies from the # 39;Water Agency and the State, for a total cost of 34,800 €. As for the envelope for future work, it represents a cost of approximately 1.3 M€, covered by the same operators. The entire operation represents an investment of 1.5 M€.

Anaïs Assier, breeder at Gaec de Hyelzas

The Gaec de Hyelzas has four partners on the farm with milk sheep, meat cattle, and the transformation of milk into ice cream.

Are you interested in the project ?

Yes, we have applied for this water harvesting project. We are not part of the first works but we hope to be in the following ones. 

What is your problem ? 

We have been é very impactful é summer 2022, with drought. There were only fifteen days of water reserves left. Animals need to drink. So stocking up on rainwater is very interesting. The ancients did it. 

Technically, how do we do it ? 

Gutters are needed along the roofs so that the water falls into a cistern, buried or not. We still have à make the connection with future tanks. We should be able to recover 200 m3 on our farm. A sheep consumes 10 liters per day, we have 340.  

What are your imperatives ? 

We cannot use this raw rainwater, because our sheep are dairy. It will need to be cleaned and mineralized. We will need to invest in an additional purification system. 

The first eight equipped farms: Gaec Le Marrionnier, Gaec Carrière, Gaec du Bout du monde, EARL Des Commechs, Fage Christophe, Gaec Le Rouveret, Gaec de Deidou, Gaec de l'Aube

Christine Valentin, the president of the Lozère Chamber of Agriculture, also expressed her interest: "L& ;#39;assembly of the Chambers of Agriculture of the Massif Central shows that the water resource raises questions to find solutions. We will succeed in this first project, promote it and we will apply it elsewhere in Lozère."

Guillaume Choisy, general director of the Adour-Garonne Water Agency, also praised the operation: "C&#39 is an innovative project to secure water on the causse. We benefit from the largest increase in the budget on adaptation to climate change, + 25% investment. Our first commitment is directed towards farmers."

Sophie Pantel, president of the Department, did not fail to show her enthusiasm: "It's a structuring project, transferable to other territories. Together, we can move forward." 

Finally, Philippe Castanet, the prefect of Lozère, expressed his commitment: "If we all came up here, it&# The reason is that we see in this project more than a signature. It's a first concrete project which will be released after the summer of 2022."< /em> A summer without water that no one, on the Causse or in Lozère, wants to relive.