Earth Day Read: Water in Venice canals clears due to low water traffic during shutdown

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, canals in Venice greatly increased in visibility due to a lack of traffic by water taxis and tourists. The lockdown in Italy allowed for the sediment to settle on the bottom of the canals and allowed for people to see all the way to the bottom in some locations. Although this water clarity does not show a decrease in water pollution, the air pollution in Venice greatly decreased due to a lack of tourism, closure of factories, and greatly decreased personal transportation. The water clarity does not directly have an impact on the environmental health of the area but it may have a lasting impact on the morale of the citizens who want to maintain some of this beauty in the future. The canals are a great indicator and eye opener for many people to see some of the large environmental impacts that people never knew they had.

Sources