Like many other holiday destinations, Sicily is also struggling with the heat. In Enna, the drought has led to a water shortage. Now, water must be conserved.
Enna, Sicily – The mountain town of Enna, at an altitude of 930 metres, is the geographical centre of Sicily. It offers a panoramic view of the island. Apart from Mount Etna, which can be seen from there, it is the highest point. But the old architecture of the castles and churches also attract travellers to the city again and again, writes the Sicilian tourism portal. But the community is currently struggling with its water resources. Researchers warn that Sicily is almost becoming a desert.
Only lake dried up: municipality of Enna in Sicily only gets water every six days
In July, the drought dried up the only natural lake near the community, reports Reuters. Lake Pergusa, part of a nearby nature reserve, has shrunk dramatically due to the mix of hot weather and low rainfall. “The lake is no longer there. Apart from this puddle, it has completely disappeared,” said Giuseppe Maria Amato of the environmental group Legambiente. This was one of the first signs of the devastating situation now unfolding in Enna.
Water is now delivered to the municipality by truck every six days. The water company AcquaEnna has informed the population about the change in drinking water supply in order to contain the serious water crisis that has affected the island for months, reports Altra MontanaSome residents have set up a committee called “Comitato senz’acqua Enna” (Committee for waterless Enna) to demand urgent action from politicians and water management to reduce the costs, including those incurred by water tankers in the city.
Hottest summer brings drought to Sicily: risk increased by 50 percent
The hottest summer on record according to Copernicus data has caused extreme drought conditions. According to a study by the World Weather Attribution Group, man-made Climate change the likelihood of devastating droughts in Sardinia and Sicily has increased by 50 percent. The reason for the increased risk is the persistent heat, which causes water to evaporate from soils, plants and reservoirs. Without the influence of warming, the current droughts in Sardinia and Sicily would not be classified as “extreme”.
But the situation is also causing problems for the rest of the island. Around 80 percent of Sicily’s territory has received far too little rain. On average, only half of the usual rainfall has fallen, a climatologist reports to the srf“The consequences are serious,” explains Professor Fazzini from the University of Camerino. Rainfall was sparse and when it did fall, it was very sudden but intense. This means that the water cannot seep away.
More efficient water network as a future solution
Improving the efficiency of the island’s water network and new irrigation technologies are the most important measures to curb the drought in Sicily in the future. But austerity measures should also provide temporary relief. But it is not only Sicily that is struggling with the extreme conditions; other places are too. Greece, for example, is also affected by the drought. But Mallorca is also restricting its water supply. (no)
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