Prohibition to irrigate vegetable gardens and gardens with water from the network: ordinance and grumbling in Cortina

Fines of up to 500 euros are foreseen. The mayor: drought is a problem, we can’t pretend it doesn’t exist

CORTINA. Prohibition to irrigate orchards and gardens, wash cars, fill swimming pools or other things with drinking water. Even the mayor of Cortina, Gianluca Lorenzi, has issued an order prohibiting the use of drinking water for purposes other than food or sanitation. A penalty ranging from 25 to 500 euros will be applied to offenders. Citizens have not accepted. Many have gardens that they take care of with time and investments and have no intention of buying bottled water to irrigate the plants, much less letting the crops burn in the sun. Numerous comments were denied to the ordinance both on social networks and on the streets of the town. Several public fountains supply water without interruption of continuity, a fact noted by the residents, who therefore wonder why, if the fountains work, they should instead ruin the gardens. The people of Cortina would have preferred a milder ordinance, which would perhaps only prohibit the filling of swimming pools, ornamental fountains and the washing of cars (allowed only in authorized facilities).

This prohibition on using water to wet the vegetable garden and the flowers that adorn the houses and numerous hotels is, in short, annoying.

“This is an act whose publication was expressly requested by the President of the Region Luca Zaia and by the BIM company”, explains the mayor Lorenzi, “and it does not only concern the Municipality of Cortina, which on the contrary remains one of the areas least affected by the water emergency. Unfortunately, the problem is there and we cannot pretend it does not exist. I did not invent the ordinance, I realize that it is annoying for those who have a vegetable garden or gardens in bloom, but we cannot pretend that there is no drought. I recommend maybe putting some garden wets outside so that they fill up when it rains, so then you can use the rainwater to irrigate. Unfortunately I know that there are not many alternatives. We need to act responsibly. Now we are also planning to close the fountains ».

The ordinance, for now, is valid until August 31, but if it rains abundantly it will be revoked.