Sicily declares state of emergency amid worst drought in almost 20 years

Severe lack of rain and poor maintenance of irrigation facilities have led to water rationing affecting more than 800,000 citizens.

Transcript

00:00Italy's southern region of Sicily is battling one of the worst droughts in almost 20 years.

00:07Following months of little rain due to the climate crisis, the region has recently declared

00:11a state of emergency, with drinking water being rationed for the first time across several

00:16cities in the winter season. Water levels at this lake outside Palermo have experienced

00:21a drastic drop.

00:41But climate change is not the only reason behind Sicily's water crisis. Dams' poor maintenance

00:46and a silt's build-up also play a key role in this.

01:10Local authorities have described the situation as really serious. They say hundreds of families

01:14could run out of water in the next few months, unless a new rationing plan is implemented

01:19as soon as possible.

01:42With such low levels of water available, administrations dread having to choose between providing it

01:47to local residents or farmers.

01:49Reducing leaks and reusing waste water for agriculture could help address part of the

01:54problem, but the effects of these solutions would only be felt in the long term.

01:59Giorgia Orlandi for Euronews in Palermo.