Cagliari: the Municipality on the front line to tackle the water crisis

In response to the water crisis currently affecting Sardinia, the Municipality of Cagliari is actively involved in promoting initiatives aimed at reducing water consumption, in line with the indications provided by the Hydrographic District Agency for the 2024 water emergency.

Therefore, in consideration of the lack of rainfall in recent months and the resulting criticality of water resources in the island's storage basins, the municipal Civil Protection Service adopts a series of measures and good practices to be implemented both in homes and in the workplace to promote rational and controlled use of water.

Homes and workplaces

• Provide taps with jet-breaking devices that save water
• Check that there are no leaks (e.g. if the meter continues to turn with all the taps closed, the water line will need to be checked/repaired)
• Do not let the tap water run unnecessarily, for example while brushing your teeth or shaving your beard, only open the taps when necessary
• Do not use running water to wash fruit and vegetables: simply leave them to soak with a pinch of bicarbonate
• When possible, reuse used water (for example: pasta cooking water can be reused to degrease dishes and water used to wash fruit and vegetables can be reused to water plants and flowers)
• Use washing machines or dishwashers, only with a full load, and remember to turn on the economizer program if there are only a few linens or dishes to wash
• Use the toilet holding tank with the lowest flow rate. This measure in the toilets allows you to save around 60% of the water currently used. In the absence of this possibility, use a bucket, which allows the cleaning of the toilet, with the quantity of water strictly essential for the same
• Prefer the shower to the bath: it is faster and reduces consumption by a third
• When you are away from home for long periods, turn off the central water tap
• Do not use potable water to wash cars or water yards/gardens. In any case, water during the cooler hours to limit evaporation and therefore water consumption

In case of interruption of the water supply

• Before any water suspension
• Keep a minimum supply of water for the bathroom and kitchen and stock up on plates, cutlery, disposable glasses (in compostable material), cotton wool and denatured alcohol
• Turn the electric water heater off and back on after the power returns to avoid damage to the heating resistors
• As soon as the water supply is restored, avoid using the washing machine, dishwasher and water heater until normality returns, because dark water phenomena could occur

The Municipality of Cagliari therefore invites all citizens and companies to actively participate in these water saving initiatives, to preserve water resources and face the current crisis responsibly.