Watering lawns is banned between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. while the ‘Alert’ level is in force – © Prince’s Palace
Water consumption has fallen by 6%, compared to 2022, since the drought action plan came into force on May 12th.
Given the severe shortage of rainfall on the Cote d’Azur, over the past year, the Monaco Government decided to take drought measures, in a Ministerial Ordinance effective May 12th. Monaco’s drought plan consists of four alert levels. The current alert level requires a reduction in water use, with specific restrictions on watering plants, lawns, and washing boats.
This Level 2 “Alert” places the following restrictions on businesses and communities:
- A ban on watering lawns, flowerbeds, planters and parks, as well as sports fields, between 8 am and 8 pm
- A ban on washing recreational or professional boats or watercraft outside the designated time slots
- A total ban on washing buildings and cars
- A ban on filling private and public bodies of water, swimming pools and spas. (Please note that the showers at the beach will still function, for hygiene reasons.)
- SMA street cleaning changes
In a press release, the Prince’s Government states, “Since May, on average, water consumption decreased by 6% (and by nearly 10% in a single week, from 3–9 July) compared to 2022. To date, over 60,000 cubic metres of water have been ‘saved’ since the Ministerial Decree came into effect.
This decrease is all the more impressive given that prior to the launch of the warning level, weekly water consumption in the first half of 2023 had increased 2% from the previous year.”
The Prince’s Government welcomed the response of the Monaco community and urges them to continue collective efforts to conserve water, especially as “sporadic rainfall has not replenished the water tables, so water resources remain strained.”
The government’s emphasis on continued vigilance in water conservation reflects their commitment to environmental responsibility and acknowledgment of climate change challenges. The population’s adherence to these restrictions demonstrates the principality’s communal spirit.
