Monaco’s water utility, the Société Monégasque des Eaux (SMEAUX), has launched a survey asking residents about their water use, as the Principality looks to plan ahead for a resource increasingly strained by climate change.
The online survey, open now at smeaux.mc, asks residents about their habits, expectations and perceptions around water use, with the results intended to guide which technologies and measures the utility prioritises going forward. Responses are anonymous, and the company has framed participation as a way for residents to directly shape future decisions on water management.
A resource already under strain
Monaco introduced its first usage restrictions in May 2023, following three consecutive years of drought and rainfall levels short of the threshold the Principality relies on to replenish its karstic springs. Wider France and other parts of southern Europe faced similar conditions that year, with neighbouring Alpes-Maritimes already at “alert” level when Monaco followed suit. Lawn watering, fountains, vehicle washing and outdoor pools were among the activities restricted at the time, with industrial and commercial water use also cut.
The utility’s own figures show the network here already runs at around 95% efficiency, a level it has sustained for two decades and one it points to as among the best in the world, with overall consumption down nearly 30% over 25 years despite sustained population and economic growth. But SMEAUX has acknowledged that the increasing frequency of drought and heavy rainfall events alike is putting pressure on both the Principality’s own springs and the external supplies it draws from the neighbouring French department.
Feeding into long-term planning
SMEAUX has described the survey as feeding directly into decisions on which new technologies and solutions are adopted to secure supply for the years ahead, as part of a wider push by the Prince’s Government to ensure water security as climate impacts intensify.
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Photo source: Hollie Santos, Unsplash