Chirac asks French not to waste water

French President Jacques Chirac urged people today not to waste water as the country copes with a spell of sizzling, arid weather that has forced several regions to impose restrictions to conserve supplies.

Bans and limits have been issued across 51 of France’s 96 regional departments. Residents in some of the hardest-hit areas, in southern and western France, have been barred from watering gardens, filling private swimming pools and cleaning cars outside of professional car washes.