Water Policy in France-A Water Policy Needs to be Continuously Updated

After 35 years implementation of an innovative river basin management, France updates its water policy with a more ambitious new law. With a first law enacted in 1964 France was taking strong measures to get over an inefficient legislation: pollution was increasing even with many laws supposed to harness had practices. The River - Basin Committees were created in order to develop a new management extended to not only the government services, but also local authorities and various kinds of water users (such as industries, agriculture, tourism ...). A solidarity for the water bodies preservation was set. River - basin - Agencies brought a new era, providing both a strong technical and financial support to a long list of "desperate" situations. Either cities and big factories started compelling with the legislation getting subsidies provided through the "polluter - payer principle" taxes. After 20 years of heavy investments, the blacklisted rivers appealed fishermen and swimmers back. A new step for developing solidarity and broadening a concern about water bodies was taken in 1992 with new law asking for a "global approach" of pollution hazards. Nowadays local committees on such tributaries, on such water table are meeting to discuss quality or quantity problems and reach together local agreements. Water preservation appears to be a widespread concern. Even farmers consider their responsibility in water preservation. Recently, France found it necessary to go beyond the sustainable development concept in water policy. In order to raise awareness among a wide population, public consultation on the definition of the next water law is being organized by the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development. The new law should be enacted within a few months. Five reasons justified a new step forward: (1) the European Union framework directive has to be adapted to French legislation: besides promoting a river basin management similar to French system, a new approach has to be set up. Water policy has to look for results: good quality level for the water bodies has to be reached before 2015. (2) an equal contribution to the taxes should be paid by various contributors to the River - Basin - Agencies budget: i. e. farmers do not pay in proportion of the detriment caused to water bodies. (3) some domains, such as flood control, are not yet a River - Basin - Agencies field of competence even if they are involved in debates. (4) various high level actions (such as international involvement, trans - boundary relationship ...) have to be coordinated. (5) six water policies within six basins need a better coordination: a national coherence could be implemented by a specific institution, on the way to be created. As one can see, France goes through a process of constantly upgrading its water laws. Past experience shows how environment asks for a wide and constant adaptation!