Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin
said Wednesday that health and hygiene would be at risk if water
is rationed in Rome.
Water utility ACEA said it may suspend water supplies for 1.5
million Romans for eight hours a day later this week because of
the drought emergency.
"An eventual suspension of the supply of water in Rome...
could seriously compromise the level of hygiene of all the
accomodation structures, restaurants and public offices,"
Lorenzin said.
"But, above all, it could seriously compromise the provision
of essential health services".
Crunch meetings are taking place in the capital to seek to
find a way to prevent the water rationing.
ACEA announced the plan after the Lazio region government
said it will be stopped from taking water from nearby Lake
Bracciano, the level of which has fallen significantly due to
the drought.
Lorenzin said her ministry was not informed of the Lazio
region's decision to stop water being taken from Bracciano.
Earlier this week the Vatican turned off its fountains due to
the drought.
Water is already been rationed to users in around 20 towns in
the province of Rome.
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