Milan to turn off fountains as drought hits Italy

The mayor of Milan has signed an ordinance turning off the taps of public decorative fountains and the city’s archbishop has prayed for rain in a tour of churches as northern Italy endures one of its worst droughts in decades.

The city ordinance follows the declaration on Friday of a state of emergency in the surrounding Lombardy region, which has endured an unusually early heatwave and months without significant rainfall.

Neighbouring Emilia Romagna and Piedmont have undertaken similar crisis measures.

Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said the ordinance would turn off decorative fountains except those holding flora and fauna that need fresh water.

A view of the Po riverbed under Ponte della Becca (Becca bridge) shows the effects of the drought in Linarolo, near Pavia, Italy
A view of the Po riverbed under Ponte della Becca shows the effects of the drought in Linarolo, near Pavia, Italy (Luca Bruno/AP)

The mayor also decreed that shops in Italy’s business and fashion capital cannot set thermostats under 26C (79F) and must keep their doors closed to avoid overtaxing the power grid.

In a Facebook post, Mr Sala invited Milanese to do their part and reduce water use as much as possible at home, in private gardens and even when cleaning terraces and courtyards.

Separately, Archbishop Mario Delpini made a pilgrimage on Saturday to pray for “the gift of rain”, visiting three churches that serve the farming communities on the outskirts of Milan.

He recited the Rosary and used holy water to bless a field in front of the St Martin Olearo di Mediglia church.

Archbishop Mario Delpini blesses a field with holy water in front of the San Martino Olearo in Mediglia, northern Italy
Archbishop Mario Delpini blesses a field with holy water in Mediglia, northern Italy (Luca Bruno/AP)

Italy’s confederation of agricultural producers, Copagri, estimates the loss of 30%-40% of the seasonal harvest.

While unusual heat and lack of rainfall are to blame for the current crisis, Italy has a notoriously wasteful water infrastructure that national statistics agency ISTAT estimates loses 42% of drinking water from distribution networks each year, in large part due to old and poorly maintained pipes.

Italy’s civil protection agency is gathering information from regions and various national ministries to propose a broader state of emergency for affected regions.

Hundreds of towns and cities across the north have already passed various ordinances calling for responsible water use to avoid the possibility of rationing.

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