On February 2, a significant water supply disruption occurred in East Rome due to a broken pipe. The incident started around 5:30 AM on Via Prenestina, near the address 916, affecting the area of Tor Tre Teste. This unexpected break caused severe flooding, leading to road closures and traffic rerouting, which impacted many residents.
Impact on Traffic and Residents
The water leak resulted in substantial traffic disruptions throughout the morning. Public transport was delayed, and congestion was reported on parallel streets. The authorities also closed nearby schools to ensure safety.
Many residents experienced a severe loss of water service, with reports of low pressure or complete absence of water in neighborhoods like Pigneto, Tor Pignattara, and Villa Gordiani. The pressure drop from the main water pipe affected a large area, causing concern, particularly among those with children or elderly family members.
Repair Efforts and Emergency Services
Mauro Caliste, President of Municipio Roma V, indicated that repair work on the main pipe was underway. However, the duration of the repairs remained uncertain, raising anxiety among residents.
To mitigate the situation, Acea Ato 2 activated water tankers in several locations to supply affected residents. The designated refill stations include:
- Piazza del Pigneto
- Via del Pigneto (in front of Giardino Galafati)
- Piazza Roberto Malatesta
- Via Filarete (near Via Galeazzo Alessi)
- Via della Stazione Prenestina
- Via Rovigo d’Istria (next to the market)
- Via Davide Campari (parking in front of S. Tommaso d’Aquino Church)
Residents were advised to contact Acea’s customer service at 800.130.335 for urgent water needs.
Concerns About Water Speculation
Alongside the water supply crisis, local officials from the Fratelli d’Italia party raised alarms about potential exploitation. They reported that some individuals were hoarding bottled water in supermarkets, likely reselling it at inflated prices in nearby businesses. Such actions could be deemed speculative and are subject to legal scrutiny.
The authorities were urged to increase inspections of local shops to prevent price gouging during this emergency. Acea Ato 2 announced that the repair operations were expected to conclude by late evening, followed by a gradual restoration of water services.
Residents are keenly anticipating a return to normalcy as repair efforts continue.
