“reduce non-essential water use”

Due to the current water situation, with lower water supplies in the Lucanian reservoirs, Lucanian Aqueduct wrote to the mayors of Basilicata to invite them to issue ordinances to arrange for the reduction of consumption in non-essential cases. ”The drinking water resource provided by the primary supply schemes – wrote the sole director of Aql Alfonso Francesco Andretta – is progressively reducing, generating a water crisis situation which could worsen as a result of the continuation of the Drought that is affecting our territories. This situation involves progressive reductions in the spring contributions and the level of the reservoirs; therefore, it is necessary, from the very beginning, to take any useful initiative to support a rational use of the available water resources, in order to guarantee all citizens the satisfaction of their primary needs for food, domestic and health hygiene use”.

With the same note, the water network management company asked the Lucanian mayors to ‘‘wanting to adopt specific ordinances aimed at a scrupulous use of drinking water resources in order to avoid serious harm to the community”.

First bans in Matera

Invitation already accepted by the mayor of MateraDomenico Bennardi, who with his own provision arranged “the prohibition of the withdrawal and consumption of drinking water for irrigation and watering of gardens and lawns; the washing of courtyards and squares; the washing of private vehicles; the filling of ornamental fountains, garden tubs, swimming pools, even if equipped with a water recirculation system; all uses other than food, domestic and hygienic uses and use of crops”. The ban does not apply to public green areas where there are trees and shrubs planted in the last five years.

The withdrawal of water from the water network remains permitted exclusively for normal domestic, zootechnical and industrial uses and in any case for all those regularly authorized activities which require the use of drinking water and public urban hygiene services.

For the duration of the ordinance, until September 15, the mayor of Matera invites everyone “to a rational and correct use of drinking water, recognizing the utmost importance of the active collaboration of all citizens”.