Illegal water trade thrives as Sicily battles with extreme drought

Global warming is not a conspiracy theory or an invention of left-wing circles and politicians. It is visible to the naked eye every day. Regularly, we receive information about droughts, heat waves, and exhausting temperatures. In Spain and Romania, residents must deal with weather conditions during which one should not leave the house. We are talking about 40 degrees Celsius. Such temperatures can simply kill.

Environmental activists regularly emphasise that global warming and climate change are facts that must be fought. They appeal for minimal plastic use, reduced meat consumption, and travelling by train or bicycle. All of this is to make situations like those faced by the residents of Sicily rare, not natural, and something we get used to. It concerns the lack of water and the necessity of water rationing.

Terrifying news is reaching us from Sicily. Residents are struggling with huge droughts, which are so severe that water rationing has had to be introduced. People dislike this, and they are organising protests against the authorities. They want them to deal better with the problems of the lack of access to clean and potable water. In Palermo, water rationing has been in place since Monday, and smaller or larger usage restrictions have been introduced in over 100 municipalities.

Residents of many cities and villages rely on illegal water tankers that arrive every few days. Unfortunately, access to water requires payment, and it is not a small amount. It turns out that "traders" charge restaurateurs between 250 and 400 euros for an amount that barely suffices for running a business. Although there are also tankers from local authorities, there are too few. Moreover, they arrive every few weeks.