Swiss residents banned from washing cars, watering gardens amid acute drought

A number of local governments in Switzerland have introduced water-saving measures amid drought and extreme heat, banning residents from washing cars, watering gardens, and drawing water from rivers for farmers.

Last week, the national weather service MeteoSuisse declared the highest drought warning, at level four, for the entire territory of Switzerland. As a result, almost all of Switzerland’s 26 cantons have imposed restrictions on water use.

According to a report by the daily Blick on Friday, the authorities of Canton Aargau, which borders Germany, banned residents from watering gardens, filling swimming pools, and washing vehicles.

The local government also prohibited farmers from drawing water from rivers, causing serious problems for farmers who complained of a critical situation. Similar measures were also introduced by the government of Canton Basel.

Several shipping companies were forced to cancel services on a number of routes, the Blick report said.

Residents living in mountainous areas of central Switzerland, such as on Mount Pilatus near the city of Lucerne, have been forced to rely on drinking water supplies from tanker lorries or tractors due to the drying up of local springs.

The government of the city of Solothurn also banned farmers from drawing water from rivers “until an unspecified time,” Blick said.

Europe is currently facing its hottest period in recent years, with Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece the worst affected.

On 16 July, President Emmanuel Macron said France was facing the highest number of forest fires since the end of the Second World War.