Residents in Schela, Gorj, drain water supply by dawn as drought hits

Drought has triggered a water crisis in Schela commune, Gorj County, Romania, where public supply basins are empty by 6 AM because residents water gardens all night. The public water network can barely keep up with surging consumption during this dry period. Locals reportedly irrigate their gardens throughout the night, depleting stored water before morning and forcing authorities to confront severe shortages. The crisis reflects worsening drought conditions affecting rural areas across Romania, where aging or undersized infrastructure struggles to meet demand during extended dry spells and heatwaves.