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Water, one of the riches of Pilat

Rainwater

Depending on the position of the clouds, the rainwater that falls on the crêts of Pilat will either join the Rhône by flowing down through the narrow valleys or wind its way across the plateaus to the Loire.

Water

Rivers, bogs, former branches of the river Rhône, the oxbow lakes and ravine torrents, all in all, water is one of the primary ecological resources in Pilat.

Water has played a key role in the economic development of the massif due to hydrologic power, resulting in the establishment of industries along the rivers.

Drinking water

Due to its abundance, quality and proximity to urban centres, the water of Pilat is retained in a dozen dams in order to supply drinking water to the neighbouring cities of Annonay, the towns of the Gier Valley and the city of Saint-Etienne..

• The protection of this resource is a key issue for Pilat.

The Park is taking action to safeguard the quality of the water and thereby preserving rare animal and plant species which can only be found in this exceptional aquatic environment. Species like the white-clawed crayfish, found in the ravines of the Rhône or the round-leaved sundew, a carnivorous plant found in the bogs.