Cammarata water shortage forces cheese factories to shut, emergency water trucks deployed

In the mountainous town of Cammarata, Sicily, residents faced completely dry taps for several days, prompting the closure of local cheese producers Mangiapane and Martorana. The dairies sent formal notices to suspend operations to the provincial health authority after livestock and production were jeopardised.

The regional Civil Protection, led by Salvo Cocina, activated an emergency response at the request of Consorzio di Bonifica Sicilia Occidentale commissioner Baldo Giarraputo. Multiple water tankers were dispatched, including two from Cammarata (11 000 L and 6 000 L), an 8 000 L tanker from San Giovanni Gemini, two from the Consorzio (11 000 L and 8 000 L), and a 14 000 L tanker from the regional Civil Protection crew, supplemented by volunteers from Sambuca di Sicilia.

The crisis stemmed from prolonged delays in water delivery by Siciliacque and a subsequent pipe failure managed by the Consorzio di Bonifica. The conduit has since been repaired, and the emergency water supply operation is now fully operational to restore service to thousands of users.