Climate change effects in Italy. Rome enforces strict water usage rules amid summer drought
The residents of the Eternal City are feeling the consequences of climate change. The mayor of Rome has introduced restrictions with severe penalties for violations.
12:16 PM EDT, May 30, 2024
Residents of Rome must limit water usage for recreational and sports purposes and for watering private gardens and plots. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri signed the ordinance, effective until the end of September.
Wasting water can result in severe fines - up to 500 euros (over $530).
Limited water resources for the summer
The regulations aim to limit possible disruptions in water access during the summer due to limited resources, as explained by the mayor of the Eternal City on Wednesday.
According to the issued ordinance, residents are advised to save water for recreational and sports activities, such as backyard pools, irrigating gardens, and private vegetable and fruit crops.
Municipal police will conduct inspections, and the authorities of the Italian capital will be announced. Violations can result in fines ranging from 25 to 500 euros.
This is not the first such case
Let us recall: the authorities of Rome have previously had to limit water usage. In September 2017, a meager amount of rainfall throughout the summer and issues with an outdated water supply network, which had many leaks, caused these restrictions.
Spain has also been struggling with this issue for many months. Extended drought periods have caused a water crisis in many Spanish regions. Since the beginning of the year, nine million people have been restricted from using drinking water. Some cities have started completely cutting off water during nighttime hours. The most affected regions are Catalonia and Andalusia.
