The Three Towers will turn blue tonight to say thank you to the people of San Marino. This evening, September 18, one of the Republic’s symbols will change color as a gesture of gratitude toward citizens who, during a difficult summer marked by heat, scarce rainfall and water reserves under pressure, tightened their belts and cut back on water consumption.
The initiative coincides with World Water Monitoring Day and comes as San Marino remains in a state of water emergency. The picture, however, is slowly improving, and in the coming weeks a first easing of the extraordinary measures introduced to prevent supply problems could be on the horizon.
During the most critical months, AASS stepped up inspections of the network and its facilities. Roughly 500 water connections were checked, both to verify compliance with the measures adopted during the emergency and to detect leaks and faults. In several cases, these checks made it possible to intervene quickly and limit water losses along the network.
At the same time, the campaign “Water is precious. Don’t waste it” was launched, asking citizens to cut back on non-essential use. According to AASS, the response showed up clearly in the numbers, with a significant reduction in consumption precisely during the most critical moments.
“The situation we faced this summer reminded us just how essential — and at the same time vulnerable — a resource water truly is. The public’s response to our calls for more mindful use is a strong example of collective responsibility,” said Secretary of State Alessandro Bevitori. The goal now, he added, is also to work on strengthening supply, treatment and storage infrastructure.
Thanks also came from AASS general manager Marcello Forcellini: “On behalf of A.A.S.S., I want to thank all the citizens who responded to our call for water savings. The significant drop in consumption recorded during the most delicate moments showed how individual behavior can produce a concrete result for the whole community.”
The emergency, in short, cannot yet be considered over, but the worst of the summer squeeze may be behind us. Tonight, meanwhile, the Three Towers lit up in blue will serve as a reminder of exactly what has happened in recent months: less available water, extraordinary measures, and a public response that, according to both the institutions and AASS, helped San Marino get through its most delicate phase.
