Low groundwater along the east coast - irrigation ban in several municipalities

A dozen municipalities in Sweden have so far introduced irrigation bans and several more are working in various ways to deal with the water issue.

Lack of water affects the planning of new residential areas in Valdemarsvik.

- We see that there is interest in developing housing in parts of the municipality where we do not have access to fresh water, so this is a real challenge, says the municipal board chairman Lars Beckman (S).

Water with jug

But it is not only in Valdemarsvik that the water during a dry summer is a problem.

The neighboring municipality of Västervik has had an irrigation ban since Monday 20 June.

There, colonists now have to water their crops with the watering can instead of with the hose.

Liliana, one of Västervik's colonists, stands in front of a yellow lawn and vegetables that do not grow well enough.

- It's sad if you work so hard and then nothing happens, she says during a visit.