Marseille: full canal and empty streams
Thoughts on this commentary?
Marseille: full canal and empty streams, The one-handed economist, Margot . . .
Margot writes*
Despite being located in a dry and warm region, Marseille is described as the “world capital of water” by the World Water Forum. Indeed, Marseille is known for its efficient water management and water infrastructures like the canal of Marseille, the Roquefavour aqueduct, or the Palais Longchamp.
The Marseille Canal diverts water from the Durance river, which takes its source in the Alps, takes it to Marseille and provides the city with two thirds of its drinking water (Webzine Voyage). The canal, the primary water source of the city, is the main reason why taps could keep running last summer, when the city experienced the driest summer ever measured in France and the country was hit by several heatwaves (La Provence).
However, the Durance resources are not infinite as several portions of the river dried up last summer (Olive Oil Times). The prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône had to declare a state of crisis and restrict water use in some areas of Marseille to preserve its water (Olive Oil Times). Restrictions during the maximum alert level included a prohibition to water lawns, to fill swimming pools, to clean waterproofed surfaces or to clean vehicles to name a few (Bouches-du-Rhône Prefecture). Prevention campaigns organized by the city and the water provider fostered collective awareness around water scarcity, encouraged citizens to respect restrictions, reduced demand and ultimately enabled Marseille to preserve its water resources even in a time of intense droughts (La Provence). Hence, while walking around Marseille in July 2022, one could see dry and yellow lawns or empty water fountains, but water would still flow if they turned on their tap (La Provence).
While this scene depicts how water management in Marseille succeeded in coping with water scarcity for urban dwellers, it is not the full picture. Unfortunately, local water streams and rivers independent of the Durance, in the hills surrounding the city were not able to resist droughts and global warming (La Provence). Thus, even if water is available at the tap, the drought affected local ecosystems and farmers who depend on irrigation (La Provence). According to the “Coordination Rurale” farmer’s organization [pdf], droughts in Marseille’s department resulted in crop losses of 30% for several crop types and 50% for olive crops.
Water scarcity in Marseille’s region also threatens biodiversity. For example fishes and insect larvae in dried-out streams or rivers with reduced flow rates are adversely affected (La Provence). The flora is also impacted as La Provence newspaper reported that oak trees died and wild boars and deers came inside villages near Marseille in search for water.
These problems will intensify in the future as drought periods become more frequent. For instance, there was a drought this winter (2023), and Le Monde explains that the river flow of the Huveaune, a river near Marseille, has never been so low in February.
Bottom line: Water scarcity and droughts in Marseille do not impact everybody in the same way. There is a discrepancy between the urban canal and the local streams and rivers. Consumers who rely on the Marseille Canal experience water scarcity as simple water restrictions during droughts whereas consumers who rely on local streams and rivers are economically impacted by water scarcity. The flora and fauna in and around streams are directly threatened by water scarcity.
* Please help my Water Scarcity students by commenting on unclear analysis, alternative perspectives, better data sources, or maybe just saying something nice
The problem here is nicely explained.
The United Nations has just been focusing on urban wetlands conservation, which is what needs to be studied. This is a problem the Chinese have been working on for years, with the result that a large portion of model urban wetlands are now found in China. Look to Wuhan, for an especially useful instance of urban wetlands building and preservation.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-11-15/Small-micro-wetlands-become-part-of-Wuhan-s-ecological-infrastructure-1eYNSor6cKI/index.html
November 16, 2022
Small, micro wetlands become part of Wuhan’s ecological infrastructure
Small and micro wetlands have become an important part of Wuhan’s ecological infrastructure, contributing significantly to its urban liveability.
Wuhan in central China’s Hubei Province, the co-host city of the just-concluded 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14), is known as the “city of rivers and lakes” and “city of wetlands.”
The city’s 63,500 hectares of small and micro wetlands account for 7.41 percent of its total area.
Wuhan currently boasts 23 such wetlands and the number is expected to reach 32 by the end of this year.
The Xibei Lake Wetland in Wuhan’s Hanjiang District epitomizes the city’s efforts in small and micro wetland conservation and restoration.
Covering only one hectare, the wetland has been transformed from a narrow catchment ditch to an underwater forest in three years.
In 2019, local authorities planted submerged plants in the water and released plankton, fish, shrimp, shellfish and snails, to form a complete ecological system and improve the water self-purification capacity.
Now, the urban wetland has attracted 21 species of wild birds to live and reproduce, enabling residents to get close to nature at their doorstep.
As an emerging aspect of wetland conservation, small water areas, less than 8 hectares, are defined as small and micro wetlands in China, according to the second national wetland resources survey in 2014….
ltr:
Much information to absorb by our young author. You are very detailed in presenting it in an excellent manner. Is it possible for Marseille to create similar wetlands?
Despite being located in a dry and warm region, Marseille is described as the “world capital of water” by the World Water Forum. Indeed, Marseille is known for its efficient water management and water infrastructures like the canal of Marseille, the Roquefavour aqueduct, or the Palais Longchamp.
— Margot
[ The sense would be that further infrastructure development should insure a sufficient water supply for the broad city. The city already has the capability of drawing on river water from much of the rest of France. The question then is protecting water in and about the city. ]
Is it possible for Marseille to create similar wetlands?
[ I am no specialist, but the geographical similarity of the cities, suggest that Marseille has a lot to learn from Wuhan on water conservation. Also, Wuhan is working steadily on water conservation and has been recognized by the United Nations as a model. China spends far more on infrastructure development than France, relative to the respective GDP levels. Water conservation is a core focus in China. ]
https://english.news.cn/20220527/a363db9472a94b6cb99e94cca851f58e/c.html
May 27, 2022
China makes headway in wetland conservation
BEIJING — China has made steady progress in wetland conservation over the past decade, with an improving wetland ecosystem, establishment of wetland nature reserves, and a new law on wetland protection.
The following are some facts and figures released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Friday that illustrate the country’s efforts in the relevant area….
https://english.news.cn/20221110/ace18f6904d94e59b1559ea509b8bd0b/c.html
November 10, 2022
Chinese megacities emerging as wetland paradises
By Yue Wenwan and Yao Yuan
WUHAN — Retired steel worker Zhao Zhigang found a new hobby at the site of a former steel and machinery port in central China’s Wuhan — bird photography.
In front of his camera, waterbirds flit across the river to rest on treetops. Behind him, joggers, skaters, square dancers and volleyball players mellow out at the Qingshan riverside park….
Also, there has been and is a general lack of infrastructure investment in Western Europe as broad-spread energy and water problems should be making clear.
Underinvestment in infrastructure, extends through Western Europe:
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=223,924,132,134,534,536,158,922,112,111,&s=NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,&sy=2007&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1
October 15, 2022
Total Investment & Gross National Savings as a Percent of GDP:
2022
France
Total Investment ( 24.9)
Gross National Savings ( 23.6)
United Kingdom
Total Investment ( 17.4)
Gross National Savings ( 12.6)
Underinvestment in infrastructure, extends through Western Europe:
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=223,924,132,134,534,536,158,922,112,111,&s=NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,&sy=2007&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1
October 15, 2022
Total Investment & Gross National Savings as a Percent of GDP:
2022
China
Total Investment ( 44.8)
Gross National Savings ( 46.4)
France
Total Investment ( 24.9)
Gross National Savings ( 23.6)
Germany
Total Investment ( 22.7)
Gross National Savings ( 26.9)