'Every drop counts': Stockholmers told to urgently restrict water use
Everyone living in the greater Stockholm area must reduce their tap water use as a matter of urgency, authorities say.
Unusually high water temperatures in Lake Mälaren are having a negative effect on the city’s waterworks and have led to a slowdown in the production of drinking water, according to the water authority Stockholm Vatten och Avfall.
As a result, private households and businesses are urged to do all they can to reduce their water consumption in the coming weeks. The shortage affects the entire Stockholm area including Huddinge, Strängnäs, Nynäshamn, Lidingö, Nacka, Tyresö, Haninge, Botkyrka, Salem, Värmdö and Ekerö.
With more and more Stockholmers returning to the city after the summer break, authorities say they know from experience that this weekend and the coming week will see a steep rise in the use of tap water.
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“Every drop counts,” the water agency said.
To ensure the city’s water supplies don’t run out the authorities have issued the following guidelines:
- Don’t fill pools
- Wash clothes and dishes sparingly – fill machines before running them
- Wait until the shortage is over before washing your car
- Take short showers instead of baths
- Don’t let taps run for no reason – turn off the tap when you’re bruising your teeth or doing the dishes.
“If everyone helps out we can avoid a worsening of the situation,” the water authority said.