ROME, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A lingering severe drought in Italy has led to water rationing for crop production and daily life of residents, with more than 10 disaster areas declared to the Department of Agriculture,local media has reported.
Amid the prolonged drought and above-average temperatures, Italian agriculture has sustained great damage in the crop and livestock production, the Ansa news agency said Monday.
The Italian Farmers Confederation has estimated recently that about two-thirds of farm fields were affected and 2 billion euros (2.3 billion U.S. dollars) worth of damage has so far been caused to Italian agriculture.
The disaster has also generated negative impact on normal water supply in much of Italy. About 20 cities neighboring the capital city of Rome have begun to suspend water supply for local residents in a certain time every week, impacting 1.5 million Romans, according to local media. Some of the public drinking water facilities have already been closed here.
Meanwhile, with the reduced water levels of many lakes, local authorities in Lazio region, which is centered on Rome, have ordered a halt of pumping water out of Lake Bracciano, effective until the end of the year.
It was the second hottest spring of Italy since 1800, said the Italian Institute of Atmosphere Sciences and Climate.
