After several weeks of deteriorating water conditions, the prefect of Martinique has just taken decisive action to prevent a shortage that could very well occur as July approaches. This decision has implications for water consumption, and every resident of the island must adjust their usage to cope with the situation.
Degradation of the resource
Martinique had been under a drought watch since early March 2026. The Interagency Mission for Water and Nature (MISEN) recommended raising the alert level by one notch to Level 2, moving to a drought alert. The prefect confirmed this upgrade to a drought alert by issuing Prefectural Order No. R02-2026-05-07-00005 —placing Martinique under a drought alert and restricting water use to conserve the resource.
This situation is due to a lack of rain, and the trend does not appear to be improving, at least for the month of May, when the drought is expected to continue. Furthermore, an El Niño-like phenomenon could occur in July 2026. As a result, rainfall may not improve. The situation is evident in the rivers, which would no longer be able to meet the region’s total water needs, according to the prefecture’s May 7, 2026, press release. Similarly, groundwater levels are expected to be well below what is necessary.
Some disruptions in the drinking water supply over the past few days have prompted the prefect to take concrete measures.
Best Practices
Placing Martinique on drought alert should make it possible to:
- to conserve water resources, prioritizing health, drinking water supply, and firefighting
- to preserve natural habitats: a minimum flow rate is essential to ensure that these habitats remain functional, that oxygen levels do not drop, and that sensitive species can survive
- to reduce pollution: lower flow rates mean less dilution of pollutants. By limiting certain agricultural or domestic uses, we also reduce the amount of pollutants reaching aquatic flora and fauna.
In practical terms, this new announcement by the prefect automatically imposes restrictions on users aimed at conserving water resources in anticipation of a severe drought:
- Watering lawns, ornamental gardens, public and private green spaces, as well as sports and recreational areas, is prohibited from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Washing vehicles and boats is prohibited outside of professional washing areas equipped with water-efficient high-pressure systems, except for vehicles subject to regulatory health, food safety, or technical requirements, such as concrete mixers.
- Draining and refilling private swimming pools is prohibited for pools larger than 1 m³, except for topping off necessary for water treatment and the initial filling if construction began before the first restrictions were imposed.
- Emptying drinking water tanks is prohibited unless justified by health reasons.
- The use of open-loop systems to supply public fountains is prohibited, to the extent that this is technically feasible
To improve the water supply situation and prevent water leaks, residents, businesses, and all stakeholders in the region must take action. You can learn more by visiting the VigiEau website: https://vigieau.gouv.fr
Source: https://www.martinique.gouv.fr/Actualites/Secheresse-2026-la-Martinique-passe-en-alerte
