French village bans brushing teeth with tap water due to ongoing drought | Abroad

In a village in the south of France, brushing your teeth with tap water has been temporarily banned due to the ongoing drought. In addition, the water should not be drunk or used for the preparation of baby milk or raw food. This has been announced by the municipality of Bargemon, in the mountainous hinterland of the Côte d’Azur.

Residents can pick up bottles of water at the mayor’s office. The restriction on, among other things, brushing your teeth is a hygiene measure. Part of the tap water is currently supplied by tanker trucks, which means that the quality of the drinking water is not guaranteed.

In addition to the drought, the southern French region is currently groaning under a heat wave. The municipality of Bargemon warned for temperatures of up to 40 degrees. Due to the increased risk of forest fires, strict restrictions have been imposed on access to large nature reserves.

State of emergency

Neighboring Italy has even declared a state of emergency for the north because of the continuing severe drought. With the emergency plans, the authorities can intervene more easily and take measures against the shortage of water. There will also be financial support.

The state of emergency applies until the end of this year for five regions in the valley of the Po, the country’s longest river. The area has been struggling with a lack of water for a long time. Water rationing threatens more and more residents. In some cities, for example, the car is no longer allowed to be washed. Some of the water is also lost through poorly maintained pipes.

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