On 24 April 2025, representatives of Domaines Skiables de France (DSF), accompanied by their institutional and technical partners, signed the Water Sobriety Plan for the French Ski Resort Sector in Paris, as part of the broader commitments made by all French tourism sectors. This agreement, backed by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, marks a turning point in the way mountain resorts approach the management of water, a resource that is as precious as it is vulnerable in high-altitude environments.
Snow produced, long seen solely as a means of supplementing natural snowfall, is now at the heart of a broader debate: how can we ensure the sustainability of winter tourism while significantly reducing water withdrawals in a context of increasing water stress? This water efficiency plan seeks to answer this crucial question by setting concrete targets for 2030.
Water sobriety plan for French ski resorts: a concrete response to the National Water Sobriety Plan
Following on from the Water Sobriety Plan launched in 2023 by the President of the French Republic, DSF has presented a structured sectoral plan, developed with the ANMSM (National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts), the ADSP (National Association of Ski Slope and Winter Sports Resort Safety Directors) and the ANPNC (National Association of Artificial Snow Producers), mobilising the entire chain of stakeholders in the resorts.
This Water Sobriety Plan for French Ski Areas is a concrete, sector-specific response to the National Water Plan. The latter, it should be remembered, aimed to structure a comprehensive strategy for the management and preservation of water resources, which are under increasing pressure due to climate change, changing uses and decreasing rainfall.
This official signing within the Tourism Sector Committee, chaired by Minister Nathalie Delattre, marks a long-term commitment to reduce water withdrawals per hectare equipped with artificial snow by 10% by 2030, using data from the winter of 2016/2017 as a reference. This reduction has two main components: artificial snow on the one hand, and other internal uses (maintenance, cleaning, infrastructure supply) on the other.
The role and impact of snow produced
In France, 40% of ski slopes are equipped with snow produced, representing an annual withdrawal of 25 million m³, equivalent to 30 mm of rain over the 100,000 hectares served by ski lifts. This snow is produced without chemical additives and 84% of the water is returned to the natural environment when it melts, according to a joint study by INRAE and Météo France (2023).
The economic activity that depends on it is considerable: 10 million visitors every winter, 120,000 direct jobs, €10 billion in revenue and an estimated leverage effect of €6 in indirect spending for every euro spent on a ski pass.
Quantified targets of the water sobriety plan for 2030
The Water Efficiency Plan promoted by Domaines Skiables de France is a continuation of the efforts already undertaken by the industry, but now sets quantified targets for 2030, accompanied by precise monitoring indicators. Five main commitments form the basis of this roadmap:
- Reduce the volume of water used per hectare equipped with artificial snow by 10% compared to the 2016/2017 reference season, through improved measurement tools, weather monitoring and snowmaking strategy;
- Reduce other water use in ski areas (cleaning, maintenance, etc.) by 10%, using winter 2024/2025 as a baseline and monitoring via an annual survey;
- Equip 100% of medium and large ski areas (those with at least six snow groomers, representing nearly 50% of operators and more than 80% of national capacity) with snow depth measurement systems to optimise snowmaking;
- Equip all resorts that withdraw more than 100,000 m³ of water per year (approximately one in two operators) with awater cycle slowing system (hillside reservoirs, buffer basins, infiltration or reuse devices). This point is crucial: it shows that the objective is not simply to ‘consume less’, but to better manage the resource as a whole, promoting retention, natural storage and gradual return to the natural environment.
- Systematically train all relevant staff, particularly snowmakers and snow groomer operators, in water conservation and economical snow cover management, incorporating this content into professional training guidelines.
These commitments are subject to a progress report scheduled for February 2027, followed by an overall impact assessment expected in 2030, ensuring a transparent evaluation of the progress made.
Organising water efficiency
To better manage the water used for snowmaking, ski areas apply a set of specific best practices:
- Regularly measure the snow depth at different points on the slopes to adjust production as needed;
- Adjust snow production in real time according to weather forecasts for the coming days and weeks;
- Define a specific strategy for each snow gun, based on observed melt and the needs of each sector;
- Optimise the location of snow guns so that snow falls directly on the slopes, without unnecessary losses;
- Store water during periods of high water (spring) to limit withdrawals in winter, using hillside reservoirs;
- Participate in local studies to better understand the impact of withdrawals on the watershed.
- Get involved in river contracts and local water management committees, especially in the event of drought.
Resilience in the event of drought
Following the recent droughts in France, several prefectures, particularly in departments most affected by winter tourism, such as Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, have introduced framework decrees. These decrees define measures for managing and preserving water resources, particularly during periods of drought. The situation is classified into four levels of intensity: vigilance, alert, enhanced alert, and crisis. Depending on the severity of the drought, the prefect issues decrees determining the restrictions to be applied.
For snow production, the departmental drought monitoring committee intervenes to anticipate needs and impose withdrawal restrictions when the level of drought justifies action. These measures include:
- Reduction of withdrawal volumes or flows for snow production in the event of an alert or heightened alert.
- Total ban on withdrawals in the event of a crisis, unless the water used comes from high-altitude reservoirs or other existing storage systems, which avoids immediate impact on groundwater and rivers.
In addition, restrictions may be adjusted according to the time of year and, in some cases, according to the time of day (as is the case in Isère), in order to limit the impact on the environment while allowing for optimal management of facilities.
When a severe drought is declared, the frequency of water withdrawal readings is increased, and consumption data must be transmitted more regularly and in greater detail to the prefecture services. This allows for more accurate monitoring and a faster response to fluctuations in water resources.
Systematic training for the sector
Training in water efficiency now consists of several complementary components. Upon joining the company, all employees, from reception to technical services, learn basic eco-friendly practices to limit their water consumption. For jobs involving high water use (garages, maintenance workshops, cleaning), short awareness-raising modules explain how to reduce flow rates and identify leaks. At the same time, professions directly involved in snowmaking benefit from a dedicated course within the Certificates of Professional Qualification (CQP):
- Operations agent: addition of a ‘water efficiency’ section to the teaching materials,
- Snowmaker: technical module on optimising snowmaking cycles and economical water management,
- Snow groomer driver: training in targeted snow distribution to minimise waste.
These programmes are updated every year in conjunction with the ANMSM, ADSP and ANPNC, and supplemented by field days where participants handle snow depth sensors and test weather-driven scenarios. Finally, DSF incorporates these themes into its annual communications and eco-commitment report, ensuring that water efficiency remains a shared priority, including for non-snowmaking water use.
Governance, transparency and control
Monitoring of implementation is entrusted to the Tourism Sector Committee, in conjunction with the Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE) and the Confederation of Tourism Stakeholders (CAT). Two milestones are planned:
- February 2027: progress report on the implementation of commitments;
- February 2030: assessment of impacts over the entire period.
At the same time, the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) carries out on-site checks and punishes any regulatory breaches. Any new snowmaking installation is subject to an impact assessment if the area exceeds 2 ha on virgin land or 4 ha outside virgin land. Withdrawal authorisation is issued by prefectural decree, with specific restrictions on flow rate, period and volume.
Strengthened territorial dialogue
DSF encourages a participatory approach with other water users, in particular through:
- Local drought commissions (sharing of resources by basin);
- DSF representatives in each river contract;
- Studies of the relative contribution of withdrawals compared to those of agriculture
Ski areas as laboratories for water innovation
Several French ski areas are now positioning themselves as genuine laboratories for water innovation, implementing concrete solutions to reconcile tourist appeal and water resource conservation. In Val Thorens, for example, an intelligent snow management system has been set up: it synchronises production with skier flows and weather conditions, taking into account factors such as wind exposure. This sophisticated approach makes it possible to adapt production in real time to visitor numbers and weather conditions, while limiting waste.
In Serre Chevalier, high technology is also being used to promote sustainability, with lidar sensors and satellite images being used to accurately measure the snow cover. Thanks to this data, snowmaking operations can be better planned and targeted according to changes in the terrain.
The resort of Les Saisies has chosen to reduce the area covered by artificial snow while maintaining visitor numbers. This has been made possible by a strategic reconfiguration of the slopes, optimised grooming and the integration of centimetre-accurate GPS in snow groomers, allowing for more precise snow distribution and a significant reduction in energy consumption.
Finally, in Val Cenis, the approach goes beyond the strict boundaries of the resort: the municipality is actively involved in the Arc Aval river contract, a shared governance mechanism that brings together resorts, farmers and other users of water resources. This involvement in the concerted management of the territory guarantees a balanced and sustainable approach to water abstraction, including for the needs of artificial snow. These examples show that, far from limiting themselves to declarations, some resorts are taking pioneering and exemplary initiatives that embody the ongoing transition towards a low-impact, resilient and responsible mountain environment.
This water efficiency plan is not simply a declaration of intent. It constitutes a methodical, quantified and monitored framework designed to ensure the viability of mountain tourism while reducing pressure on water resources.
By recognising the physical limitations of the mountain environment and structuring technical, territorial and human responses, the ski resort industry is sending a strong signal to its partners, the government, NGOs and citizens.
