Following the publication of data on large-scale abstractors in Excel spreadsheet format (Règlement sur la déclaration des prélèvements d’eau) by the MELCCFP (Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs), several water stakeholders demonstrated a need to illustrate the data in a simple, usable format. The water samplers project aims to determine the needs of the various organizations that use or are concerned by this data via a survey, and then to adapt the data according to the needs identified by the territory’s organizations. This process will enable the OBV to make recommendations to the MELCCFP to make the database “user-friendly”, to support organizations in reducing breakages or conflicts of use, and to optimize the use of water resources.
OBV SCABRIC developed a survey to assess the level of knowledge about water abstraction declarations and to identify the needs of organizations to be solicited for water abstraction data. Then, an exploitation and restructuring linked to the database Prélèvements d’eau déclarés depuis 2012 (Corrected version from February 2024) was carried out to illustrate the data of the préleveurs on two interactive maps with the aim of helping to make informed decisions.
- The first map is specific to cities and municipalities participating in the program for the development of drinking water source protection plans (PEPPSEP).
- The second card targets the general public.
Next, a solicitation approach was taken to complete the survey and view the interactive water abstractor maps, in order to collect data from targeted organizations through phone calls and email blasts.
The survey responses were then compiled and analyzed to identify common and priority needs by type of organization.
The next step was to correlate the water abstractors’ data with complementary data identified according to the needs of the organizations targeted by the survey (e.g. production of a map superimposing water abstractors and water recharge, etc.). The results of the spatial analyses were made available to the public on the OBV website and provided in the form of maps to participating organizations. Finally, recommendations to the MELCCFP were described. These recommendations compile a summary of the needs identified by the participating organizations and a list of anomalies in the database.
Illustrating a picture of actual water consumption, albeit with uncertainty and error, opens up new avenues for integrated water management. It enables water resources to be assessed, and facilitates the estimation of future needs for various agricultural, industrial or municipal activities. In fact, water withdrawal practices must be adapted to the reality of water resources and aquatic environments. In agriculture, the application of the most efficient cultivation techniques reduces the volume of water used and guarantees its quality. In the event of drought, water use restrictions can be applied on a case-by-case basis. In the industrial sector, it’s possible to think in terms of the circular economy: for example, one company’s wastewater can become another’s input. In urban environments, we’re thinking more in terms of water-saving practices.
