Encouragements to save water in the summer have become increasingly common in recent years, but now the public is urged to be extra careful with water later in the year. The reason is the climate.
It is the residents of Gotland who are urged to save water even in the autumn, despite the tourists having gone home. Region Gotland describes the situation as “strained.”
According to Susanne Bjergegaard Pettersson, the head of the water and sewage department in Gotland, the alleged climate changes in recent years have meant that the groundwater reservoirs do not recover as they used to, and the island’s residents must consider their water consumption.
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“During the summer, the commitment was great and everyone pitched in. Consumption decreased and it had an effect. But now we see that distribution is on the rise again, which means that consumption is increasing. This is not good considering the forecast for next summer,” she says.
To strengthen the water supply, Region Gotland is working, among other things, on investigating additional water sources and developing technical solutions. However, even if capacity can increase in the long run, personal water use continues to be identified as a crucial factor.
Several Years of Precipitation
Pettersson believes that it will take several years of precipitation to restore the balance.
“So it will require much more precipitation than what we have had in October and November for it to have a chance to recover,” she tells the state radio.
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Before the summer, there was unusually little rainfall, which meant that the water reservoirs were not properly filled ahead of the tourist season.
112 Liters per Day
To ensure future drinking water supply, an average consumption goal of 112 liters per person per day has been set.
“The precipitation and the impact of climate change clearly show that we cannot rely on rain to solve the situation,” warns Region Gotland.
“Therefore, we need to continue using water as sparingly as we did this summer. Not only in the short term, but also in the future. This is an important prerequisite for Gotland’s water to be sufficient both now and in the future,” says Susanne Bjergegard Pettersson.
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