Romans are Europe's champion water consumers: study

ROME (AFP) Apr 06, 2003
The inhabitants of Rome are among Europe's most prodigious consumers of water, using up an average of 293 litres (quarts) per person per day, according to a study published Sunday by the Italian treasury.

This means Romans consume nearly double the amount of water as the inhabitants of Berlin (129 litres per person per day) and far more than people from Athens or Oslo (200 litres each).

The treasury's study did not say if the city's vast water consumption is a result of the low charges in the city, where water costs a mere 0.63 euros (0.68 dollars) per cubic metre, compared with 4.24 euros in Berlin.

But the study did say that Romans pay the lowest price for water in the whole of Europe.

The water consumption situation in Rome, with quality tapwater, is not representative of elsewhere in Italy, where prices are generally higher and consumption lower.

SPACE.WIRE