A record-breaking drought in France is taking a serious toll on power supplies and agriculture, as the country faces a series of severe heat waves.

Europe's western and southern regions have suffered from high temperatures and dry conditions since June.

France had only 9.7 millimeters of rainfall in July, about 10 percent of the amount recorded in the same month last year and the lowest July total since record keeping began.

The dry conditions have left more than 100 municipalities short of drinking water. The French government has set up a task force to deal with what it calls the country's "worst ever recorded" drought.

In Paris, city officials have stopped operating fountains that do not recycle water. They are calling on residents to take steps to conserve water, such as by taking showers instead of baths.

Some nuclear power plants which use river water to cool their reactors have been forced to significantly reduce output, as their drainage water raises river temperatures.

The drought has also dealt a blow to the production of wheat, milk and other agricultural products. The government estimates that this year's wheat yield will fall by over 7 percent from the previous year.

Drought conditions are expected to persist for several more weeks.