A Strategic Response to Climate Change
In Rians, the Région Sud and the Département du Var launched Var Bleu, a vast network to secure water resources in the face of droughts.
Faced with the intensification of drought episodes and the growing pressure on water resources, the Région Sud and the Département du Var launched the "Var Bleu, le grand réseau de l'Eau" project on April 30. The presentation and the start of the consultation phase took place at the Centre de l'Eau et des Énergies de Rians, in the presence of Renaud Muselier, president of the Région, Jean-Louis Masson, president of the Département, Simon Babre, préfet du Var, and Bénédicte Martin, president of the Société du Canal de Provence (SCP). This major program aims to secure access to water, optimize its distribution throughout the Var territory, including the hinterland, and strengthen firefighting capacities.
MAJOR ISSUE The Var Bleu project is part of the continuity of the regional "Or Bleu" plan and the département's forward-looking "Var Eau 2050" initiative, the conclusions of which were presented in June 2025. It aims to provide a structural and solidarity-based solution to water management, by linking local resources with major reserves. "For our farmers, for each of us, water is a major issue.
In the Région Sud, we are facing more frequent, longer droughts that put all uses under tension. In this context, acting is no longer an option: it is a responsibility. Today, the Var Bleu project embodies this ambition.
Because every cubic meter counts, the Région Sud is acting as close as possible to everyone's needs," declared Renaud Muselier.
At the heart of the system lies the creation of a major infrastructure: the "liaison permienne". This is an aqueduct of about 52 kilometers linking Belgentier to Vidauban, which will make it possible to mobilize part of the resources stored in the Verdon reservoirs. The goal is not to replace local resources, but to relieve them during periods of high tension, ensuring complementary and coordinated management.
This main axis will be complemented by the deployment of multi-purpose networks coming from the canal de Provence. These extensions aim to serve nearly 60 additional municipalities, irrigate approximately 15,000 hectares of agricultural land, and strengthen Forest Fire Defense (DFCI) systems. The deployment will be gradual, in close collaboration with local authorities to meet the specific needs of each territory.
335 MILLION The estimated cost of Var Bleu is 335 million €, divided between the main infrastructure (€140M) and the service and distribution networks (€195M). This investment is part of the broader €750 million Development and Investment Plan carried out by the SCP on behalf of the Région Sud. The governance of the project is based on broad consultation.
A preliminary phase will be launched in 2026 and 2027 concerning the "liaison permienne", followed by a public inquiry in 2030. In parallel, continuous consultation will be conducted with local actors for network developments. inescapable priorities of the département's public action.
The Département has mobilized all stakeholders and is committed to supporting the 66 possible scenarios developed by the territories," emphasized Jean-Louis Masson. For her part, Bénédicte Martin recalled the commitment of the SCP: "The Var Bleu program constitutes a major response to the challenges of climate change, based on solidarity between territories, sobriety of uses, and the preservation of our natural environments."
Beyond infrastructure, Var Bleu includes an essential component dedicated to controlling consumption. Awareness campaigns will be conducted for individuals, farmers, and local authorities to promote water-saving practices, optimize irrigation systems, and improve the efficiency of existing networks. This comprehensive approach aims to sustainably integrate the Var territories into a responsible and resilient management of the resource.
Photo Guillaume RUOPPOLO.