Rome enforces strict water limits as climate crisis deepens
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.
Residents of Rome must limit water usage for recreational and sports purposes and 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 CAD 730).
Limited water resources for the summer
The aim of the regulations, as explained by the mayor of the Eternal City on Wednesday, is to limit possible disruptions in water access during the summer due to its limited resources.
According to the ordinance, residents are advised to save water used for recreational and sports activities, such as backyard pools, as well as for 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
The authorities of Rome have had to limit water usage before. In September 2017, many leaks were found due to meagre summer rainfall and an outdated water supply network.
Spain has also been struggling with this issue for many months. Prolonged drought has 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 areas are Catalonia and Andalusia.
