The Sicilian capital of Palermo is used to water crises but the latest has left residents irate.
Hundreds of homes in the port city were left without drinking water due to emergency maintenance work, and – more upsettingly for local residents – because water in two residential areas was diverted to meet the needs of tourist cruise ships transiting in the port.
"Citizens of Palermo are informed that that the water disruptions that have occurred these days are due to the drawing of water by cruise ships in transit through Palermo," AMAP, the provider, said in a written apology on its website on August 23rd.
Palermo is the last city in Italy that allows cruise ships to make stops to restock water for passengers: all other Italian ports have banned such refuel pit-stops because of water shortages.
In Palermo, as water began to flow again in affected areas, a further issue served to aggravate the city's drought.
"Due to urgent and unexpected maintenance of the network, AMAP was forced to interrupt the water supply in the areas of Partanna Mondello; Mondello Paese; Valdaura; Addaura; Vergine Maria and Arenella," AMAP communicated today on its website.
It is not the first time giant cruise ships have caused controversy in Italy. Venice has attempted to pass legislation to move all cruise ships over 40,000 tonnes to the nearby port of Marghera in order to reduce pollution.