“Water trucks six times a day, it was a nightmare,” assures Marie-Pierre Pons, the mayor of Cessenon-sur-Orb

Marie-Pierre Pons, maire de Cessenon-sur-Orb, lors de la journée de l’eau organisée au Domaine de Bayssan. – Frédéric Faux

On the occasion of Water Day in Bayssan this Tuesday, March 20, Marie-Pierre Pons, mayor of Cessenon-sur-Orb, tells us about the drought in her village… And how she tries to get out of it.

There was a lot of talk about the water crisis in Cessenon last summer, what happened?

The only spring in the village has almost dried up due to lack of rain in the previous months. We had gone from one hundred to a dozen cubic meters per hour. We had to bring water by truck, between 6 and 7 rotations per day. A real nightmare! And 60,000 euros on the municipal budget. But without this, half the village would have found itself without water. Then, we obtained exceptional authorization to drill, which allowed us to return to a normal situation. We did it in three weeks, whereas normally it would have taken three years.

What other steps have you taken ?

Fighting against water leaks. We repaired a huge leak, which was old, but hidden. This allowed us to reduce our consumption. We also joined the Orb and Vernazobre union, which brings together ten municipalities. We are waiting for validation from the prefect, but we have started working together.

This crisis has therefore caused a lot of changes in Cessenon…

It’s true, because last summer we really hit the wall head on. Mentalities are changing. We were in a sort of comfort: I open the tap, the water flows, it’s normal. And then, there is this myth of the source which belongs to us, which seemed eternal. But that was the world before, you have to adapt.

How much will this adaptation cost??

Drilling and pipes cost 557,000 euros, for which subsidies are requested from the Water Agency and the Department. We will also have to increase the price of water because maintaining the networks and installing meters is expensive. A private meter must be changed after ten years, because after that it is less reliable. This too comes at a cost.

What is your situation today?

We are in the process of formalizing our drilling, which goes down to 170 meters. It is necessary to carry out several tests, in different conditions, this is normal. At the moment, we are not using it because it rained a little, the spring rose… hellip; But we must not forget that since March 2022, it has not rained properly in the sector. The source at the moment is at 45 cubic meters, compared to 37 a year ago. We're still a long way away.

And for the future?

Today we need to think beyond just water resources. In 2024, like many other municipalities, I have decided to freeze building permits. I haven't just made friends, but I can't invite people to live in Cessenon and then tell them sorry, I don't have any water.
Politicians must therefore do their job, and residents too. During this summer's crisis the majority of people played the game, we saw it in the billing… But there are always, unfortunately, those who continue to fill their swimming pool. They have not understood that this crisis is not a crisis: it is a situation that will last.