People drink water from a fountain in Rome, but a drought means that 100 fountains are to be
turned off . Prolonged drought in the city of Rome has caused Vatican officials to begin turning off 100 fountains as a heatwave hits Italy – this includes two baroque fountains in St Peter’s Square.
Vatican spokesperson Greg Burke said that turning off the fountains was, “the Vatican’s way of living in solidarity with Rome, trying to help Rome get through this crisis”.
The Vatican’s fountains are gradually being turned off, with the measure initiated on Monday.
The amount of fountains ultimately being turned off will be decided by the severity of the drought over the coming months.
Mr Burke said it was the first time Vatican authorities could remember having to turn off the fountains.
“The drought that is affecting the city of Rome and the surrounding areas of the capital has led the Holy See to take measures to save water,” the Vatican said on its website.
“The Governorate of Vatican City State has decided to turn off all the fountains, both the external ones located in St Peter’s Square, and the interior fountains including those in the Vatican Gardens.”
This comes as two-thirds of Italy’s farmland is suffering from drought, with the cost to farmers being estimated at €2bn according to Italian farmers.
Farmers association Coldiretti said that dairy farmers, and those growing tomatoes, wine grapes, and olives are among those that are most affected according to the BBC. They say that 60% of farmland is threatened by the drought.
Rome’s utility company Acea are warning that there will be water rationing as authorities in the Lazio region ordered the pumping of water from Lake Bracciano to stop (8% of Rome’s water comes from the lake), with the governor saying the water level had fallen too much and they risk an environmental disaster.
Already some of Rome’s water fountains have been turned off.