visited sicily in 2021. an amazing place and fond memories. this phenomenon is worldwide and will likely get worse. not here to preach anything just share.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/06/climate/italy-sicily-water-shortage-drought-tourism-intl/index.html
Thanks for sharing the link to that article. I shared it with a relative who has been thinking of visiting Sicily at some point. I visited Sicily in 2013 and I agree that it’s an amazing place.
The solutions are complicated, even for an island surrounded by water. *The three desalination plants that could clean Sicily’s seawater for drinking, sanitation or irrigation have been closed for more than 10 years. Getting them back online, or drilling new wells, will take time.*
I wonder why that is?
i have a foggy recall of a topic, from several years back, when the fountains in Rome were being turned off because of water shortages. It was reported that in some areas of Rome as much as 33% of the water was lost to leakage.
The article also touches on the fact that leakage losses are a problem:
Sicily began enforcing water restrictions in February when the region declared a state of emergency amid a relentless drought. Leaky, aging infrastructure has only worsened the shortages, which have hit tourism and agriculture alike, two sectors crucial to Sicily’s economy.
Yikes. We're in the early stages of planning a trip for next April that originates in Taormina, but stays on the eastern coast and after 3 nights we'll take a train up to Messina and onto the train/ferry that will take us over to the mainland. I don't think it'll be that hot in early April, but the drought meant water restrictions started in February of this year?
I'd hate to have to rethink this part of our trip.
