Le Mont Valaisan

This water spurts out of various springs all around the mountain side. The Traversette spring, near the Maison des Bergers alpine chalet, is channelled to provide a large part of the commune’s drinking water throughout the year, even in winter when water levels are at their lowest and demand is highest as the resort reaches its full capacity. The water from the Traversette spring is stored underground in a natural reservoir called an aquifer, which covers a huge area under the mountain’s surface. The rest of the non-channelled water, such as rainwater, flows down into the Torrent des Moulins. This stream has its source at the bottom of the Combe des Moulins, between the tip of the Louie Blanche and the Mont Valezan, and flows into the Isère River at Viclaire. At Putétruit the stream crosses a water pipeline which links the Sainte Foy Tarentaise valley to the Cormet de Roseland and feeds the Cormet de Roseland hydroelectric dam. To ensure that the resort has enough water throughout the winter, EDF (the French electricity board) and the resort of La Rosière have an agreement that, if needed, the resort can draw water from this pipeline. This water also feeds the resort’s snow canons, which are dotted around the ski area to guarantee snow cover with artificially-made flakes.