In a statement on Tuesday 28 June, Carlo Gubellini, the mayor of Castenaso near Bologna, said the classic two rinses use about 20 liters of water. Speaking to the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale, Gubellini said the city’s 10 hairdressers probably use “thousands of liters” of water a day. The change comes as Italy faces one of its worst droughts in 70 years, with many areas implementing water-saving measures – such as Milan, where public fountains close. Gubellini said the salons responded positively to the news and agreed to abide by the new terms. Those who break the rules will be viable to pay a fine that can cost from 25 to 500 euros. In an interview shared by the Castenaso local government, Gubellini said the second shampoo “is not necessary”. “Until yesterday we had plenty of water, but that is no longer the case and our habits will have to change,” he said, adding that the rules would remain in place throughout the summer until September 30. “I hope I can change the decree, but the current situation is really worrying. “From July, things can get drastically worse. “Unfortunately, it is almost certain that we will end up with a diet with serious consequences for the crops.” In addition to hair salon changes, Castenaso has also reduced the number of hours residents can water their gardens and plants. Italian farmers have expressed concern as the drought quenches the fields in the river valley, threatening to harvest basic commodities such as high-quality rice used for risotto. The Po, Italy’s largest river, and the Dora Baltea, a tributary of the Po, are the main water sources of northern Italy, but water levels are currently eight times lower than the season average.
