A lack of rain and the onset of another period of unusually warm weather has prompted officials in several communities in Southern Norway to ban all watering of lawns and gardens. In Oslo, the problem has been compounded by a shortage of CO2 used at the city’s main water treatment plant.
Officials at Oslo’s water and sewage department said they’d been assured deliveries of CO2 that should be sufficient to cover normal consumption of water until the middle of July. Increased consumption because of the dry, warm weather that’s prompted many to use garden hoses and sprinklers could lead, however, to a lack of CO2.
If that happens, Oslo residents will be warned that water should be boiled before being used for drinking or in food preparation. City officials aimed to ward that off by re-imposing a ban on outdoor watering, to lower consumption. An earlier ban was eased when some rain finally fell on the Oslo area two weeks ago.
There’s now no rain in the forecast for at least the next week, and forecasts for temperatures near 30C (85F).
newsinenglish.no staff
