French mountain lodges worry over strained water supply (opens in new tab)

The Parmelan mountain refuge in Haute-Savoie, a mountainous department bordering Switzerland, is perched at an altitude of 1,800 metres (nearly 6,000 feet). The 19th-century building relies entirely on rainwater despite welcoming some 3,000 overnight visitors from May to October and countless hikers and campers passing through on the popular route. The lodge collects rainwater in large tanks -- holding enough for six weeks of reserves -- that is then filtered and funnelled to the only tap on ...