France and Switzerland are close to a new agreement regarding water.
France is building new nuclear power plants on the banks of the Rhône, around 70km from the Swiss border.
This is concerning Geneva authorities who fear they will need more water – jeopardising supplies for Geneva, Vaud and Valais.
The Geneva environmental minister, Antonio Hodgers, says he will not empty Lake Geneva for a nuclear power plant’.
The French maintain the new power stations will actually use less water.
Forecasts suggest that climate change will see the amount of water in the rivers and lakes decline by 20% in the next 30 years.
Switzerland will maintain water levels in the lake, but agrees to release more in case of an emergency at a nuclear plant or in exceptional drought conditions.
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