Motorboats on the lake?

The health of our lake is getting worse, with the process of eutrophication starting. The principal causes of this deterioration are the shortcomings of the waste water collection system and the input of pollution and nutrients from farming. To these can be added other sources of pollution, of minor importance, among which are combustion engine motorboats.

In what way do motorboats pollute the lake?

These are the principal ways:

• a part of the fuel consumed is released into the water; up to 30% per 2-stroke engine (which almost no longer exist), much less for 4-stroke and small cylinder engines;
• many tourist boats dump their waste water (often including chemical products) into the lake;
• there are rest areas for boats scattered along the banks, unregulated and polluted;
• with every fast passage of a motorboat in low water the turbulence disturbs flora and fauna and releases part of the phosphorus deposited at the bottom, rending it available as nutrients.

Moreover motorboats can easily enter otherwise unreachable lake shore areas, putting flora and fauna at risk.

How has this problem been confronted at other lakes?

On many lakes a ban has been imposed on boats with combustion engines (with exceptions for boats for professional use); for example Lake Vico, Lake Bracciano, Lake Trasimeno, a part of Lake Garda and many lakes in Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany. However, boats with electric motors are allowed: an effective solution which is simple to apply, since control is easy.

What are the reasons for such a drastic choice?

Reducing pollution through these measures means on one hand protecting the health of the lake and on the other protecting the body of drinkable water that the lake represents. Yet there are other important reasons, economic and ethical.

Economic reasons?

Elsewhere, in many areas and towns, the community and tourist operators rely on sustainable tourism, one which respects the environment and takes advantage of this profitable resource. They offer sporting and beneficial activities in a healthy and protected Nature; sailing, canoeing and similar, windsurfing, kitesurfing, treks on foot or by bike, archery, equestrianism, tennis, birdwatching as well as cultural and spiritual activities.

Ethical?

Respect for the environment, love for our lake, is perhaps the only way to truly safeguard it, and the awareness of this is always spreading. We would never think of organising a motocross race in Bosco del Sasseto, a kart race in St Peter’s Square, a motorboat race on the canals of Venice. Our naturalistic and spiritual heritage merits respect.

Are there alternatives to a net ban on motorboats?

There are some. On other lakes, navigation is regulated in order to contain harmful effects: limitations on the speed and/or power of the engines, introduction of a distance in respect to the banks, limitations on the size and number of boats and an absolute ban for some types of craft e.g. those with 2-stroke engines and jetskis. These solutions only make sense if accompanied by efficient surveillance.

Could they work for Lake Bolsena?

Some of these measures – limits on speed, distance from shore and others – have already been in force for years (see regulation here) but not respected. There is a lack of an effective surveillance system on the part of the security force. We must ask ourselves if these measures alone are sufficient to protect the health of the lake ecosystem (as well as the safety and peace of bathers).

For all of the above reasons, it would be advisable not to increase the current number of boats on the lake, and to register those that are present. We believe that motorboats should be subject to the criteria of eco-sustainability. Good regulation of navigation, restrictive of the most polluting craft and practices and whose observance is accompanied by adequate supervision, could be a better alternative to absolute bans.