Swiss municipalities maintain water restrictions as water supplies dwindle

Water remains scarce in parts of Switzerland despite the end of summer heat, and municipalities are continuing conservation measures, SRF reports. Wittnau in Aargau has had restrictions in place since June, with fines for violations.

Winterthur recently said it would shut most of its more than 300 public fountains until conditions improve. The municipality of Schiers in Graubünden has also urged residents to save water. In Wittnau, restrictions include bans on filling pools, watering lawns, irrigating flower gardens and washing cars.

Wittnau, home to about 1,500 people, gets all its drinking water from springs, which are producing substantially less because of a lack of rainfall. The village’s three sources now provide a combined 231 litres per minute, compared with the usual 500 to 600 litres for this time of year. Daily demand is about 200 litres per minute, leaving a reserve of 31 litres.

The municipality has turned off village fountains, while the fire service has stopped water-intensive exercises. Residents are currently using about a third less water than in other years. Authorities also conduct household checks and inspect water meters on a sample basis. Fines range from 500 to 2,000 Swiss francs.

A leak in a pipeline supplying a farm caused the worst day of the year for Wittnau’s water supply: nearly 170 cubic metres of drinking water flowed into a field before the damage was repaired.

Municipal leader Denise Schmid says it is unclear how long restrictions will remain. Several weeks of heavy rain would be needed to ease the situation. The municipality is also considering expanding a reservoir or building an emergency water pipeline to a neighbouring municipality.