The Italian island of Sicily is experiencing severe drought, as the lack of winter rains is putting pressure on water reservoir supplies, forcing residents to store drinking water. The island has declared a state of emergency, with dozens of towns rationing water usage for agricultural and daily living needs, providing water supplies only every two days. Sicily recorded a record high temperature in Europe in 2021 at 48.8 degrees Celsius.
Maria Maneri, a student and waitress from the city of Agrigento in southern Sicily, stated, "Even preparing herbal tea or cooking pasta becomes a daunting task." She often has to carry a huge bag filled with water bottles. Another resident named Antonio remarked that the value of "water in Agrigento is worth gold." He regularly fills tanks and bottles from the nearest spring in the city.
The island produces citrus fruits, olives, and wheat. Water shortages are not new for the residents of Sicily, many of whom have water tanks on their rooftops to collect rainwater. However, the storage system has proven ineffective in coping with long droughts in recent years. Federico Castronovo, a restaurant owner, mentioned that some residents now fill bathtubs when water supplies are available, so they have water for washing and cooking when supplies are cut off.
