Struggling Venice

The high tides, documented back to the 6th century are getting worse. Forty or more times each winter the squares and sidewalks are flooded with a foot to 18 inches of water. Walking planks, set on short scaffolding, has become an all too common way of getting around in certain squares in Venice. These planks are stored everywhere when water is down.

We were told that all sewage flows into the canal, though now people are required to have a septic tanks in their basements which holds the solids long enough for them to liquify. Luckily the 2 to 3 feet high tides, come every six hours and flush out the lagoon. In the past Venice had the reputation of stinking, but the water had no odor and looked cleaner then say, Puget Sound.

The city is declining for many reasons, not the least of which is the rising tide and the constant battle to rise above it. It is also very expensive to live in Venice. The population os now 80,000, down from 120,000 twenty years ago.