Gargnano Enforces Water Restrictions Amid Lake Drought Excess

Lake level and water situation

The lake, compared to last winter, is about eighty centimeters below. The water supply systems in many Garda towns are nearly exhausted. For years, there hasn’t been such a critical water situation on Benaco, even though in many mountain hamlets, during summer, residents have long been living with tanks.

It should be noted that each town had to endure the surge of tourists between July and August. Towns like Gargnano quickly increased from just over three thousand to around fifteen thousand inhabitants.

Added to this are the gardens and vegetable patches to water, cars to wash, and pools to fill. It was inevitable that the water network would suffer consequences.

Municipal ordinances against water consumption

On August 2nd, Gargnano’s mayor, Daniele Roscia, issued an ordinance prohibiting the use of drinking water for irrigating gardens and yards, filling pools, as well as washing vehicles. The ban was set to be indefinite, in effect for 15 hours a day: from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The ongoing drought and depletion of water reserves prompted the mayor to intervene again. A new ordinance was issued on August 22nd, and this time, it was even stricter.

The water use ban applies throughout the municipal territory 24 hours a day. Since Tuesday, posters signed by the mayor have been displayed on the town walls.

Consequences and penalties

Now it is up to the municipal police and Carabinieri of Gargnano to enforce the ordinance. But, as always, not all tourists and residents will comply.

In the evening and at night, some people turn on pumps to water their salad and tomato gardens. The vast territory and a reduced staff, especially at the Carabinieri station, mean that Mayor Daniele Roscia’s ordinance is often disregarded.

The number of inspections that police and Carabinieri can perform daily is limited, and they are already dealing with complaints from dozens of tourists and residents about nighttime disturbances. Regarding the ordinance, hefty fines are expected.

«From 12,000 to one million lire,» emphasizes the head of the police, Daniele Tonincelli, who already on Tuesday found a German individual watering his garden with a hose. But the water came from a well, not the municipal aqueduct, so no fine was issued.

If it doesn’t rain, control measures will become even more stringent.