Just took office a week, but the new mayor of Verona Damiano Tommasi has already had to make one of the most difficult and unpopular decisions to face theDrought Emergency. Starting today, in fact, the use of drinking water will be allowed during the day (from 6 to 21) only for domestic purposes, i.e. for drinking and for personal hygiene. During the night (from 9 pm to 6 am) it will be allowed, although not recommended, also for the irrigation of vegetables.

The decision of the municipal administration of Verona was expected. Veneto, together with Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Friuli Venezia Giulia, is one of the top five regions for which the government has declared a state of emergency due to drought.

What does the ordinance of the Municipality of Verona provide?

A note on the Municipality website explains that “following the persistence of the meteorological situation and the subsequent water emergency”, the mayor “has signed a new ordinance which limits the use of drinking water for domestic purposes, for personal cleaning and hygiene. An invitation also to adopt behaviors and habits useful for reducing waste, making each citizen responsible for the importance of individual actions to try to stem the problem “.

Up to 500 euros in fines for those who violate the order

The ordinance will be valid until August 31, from 6 to 21: the use of drinking water from water sources will be limited to domestic and sanitary purposes only, while will not be allowed for several, such as the irrigation of vegetable gardens, sports fields, for washing cars, except for authorized facilities, for filling swimming pools and for any other activity that is not strictly necessary for human needs. Although not recommended, the use of drinking water for irrigation of the garden can only take place from 9 pm to 6 am. For offenders, penalties of up to 500 euros are envisaged.

Advice not to waste water

The deed signed by Mayor Tommasi not only bans the use of drinking water until the end of August, but also includes a series of recommendations on its conscious and responsible use. “Among the main ones: always closing the tap is useless; preferring the shower to the bath in the tub, which allows you to reduce consumption by 7%; install the jet friction on the taps and a push-button box on the toilet to regulate the water load of the flush; prefer the dishwasher to hand washing, always using it at full load. water avoids a waste of 6 liters per minute Learn how to reuse water, from condensation in air conditioners to hot cooking water “.