Authorities are calling on municipalities and the public to reduce water consumption with a national “vigilance phase” restricting use of drinking water on uses such as lawn watering.
The Department of the Environment of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Water Management Authority and major drinking water providers, refer to the recent weather conditions to justify the move.
In particular, they say that winter rainfall was particularly low, with a combined precipitation of 251mm, just over half of the long-term average.
The hydrological winter period is when groundwater levels recharge, and the authorities say the drought of recent months may have a medium-term effect on sources for the supply of drinking water.
Moreover, with last week’s temperatures hitting and even exceeding 30°C, drinking water consumption is currently very high.
The vigilance phase is considered a preventive measure, which calls for the sparing use of drinking water in order to significantly reduce consumption.
At this stage, municipalities and other entities in the municipal sector can implement a number of measures by setting a good example, notably by renouncing, as far as possible, the irrigation of lawns, parks, cemeteries and sports grounds As well as the operation of fountains and the washing of sealed surfaces.
It is not unforeseeable that deeper restrictions on the use of drinking water may be implemented in the future.
