Sprinkler trucks to cool down Prague during weekend heatwave

To combat the sweltering temperatures, sprinkler trucks will be deployed on the streets of Prague over the weekend. The trucks are expected to operate from morning until late afternoon, according to Jiří Wolf, spokesperson for the city's Technical Road Administration (TSK).

This annual summer road maintenance practice serves multiple purposes, including cooling the streets, reducing dust, and mitigating the intensity of ground-level ozone, which can cause irritation. Weather forecasts predict that temperature records will be broken during this weekend.

The sprinkler trucks will be dispatched on the streets of Prague on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m., primarily in response to the reported high concentration of ground-level ozone.

TSK made the decision to implement the sprinkling trucks first time this year in recent days, with the trucks already operating in the city center during the week. These vehicles utilize drinking water from Prague's water supply and gather it from several designated hydrants.

The City of Prague owns these vehicles, and their deployment is determined by TSK. Typically, they are deployed when temperatures have exceeded 25 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days or during tropical days with increased levels of ground-level ozone and high dust concentration.

Ground-level ozone is particularly irritating to the eyes, nasal membrane, and bronchi, especially for young children, as it remains close to the ground.

According to Alexander Komarnický, spokesperson for Prague maintenance service Pražské služby, potable water is used in the trucks in order to both cool the streets and also to safely cool down pedestrians, cyclists, and animals that come into contact with the water. The trucks are scheduled to spray water and mist at least four times between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Every year, the city of Prague also provides additional means of cooling down through misting points placed by fire hydrants. These fixtures, provided by Pražské vodovody a kanalizace (PVK), allow people to cool off under a light mist. This year, 22 misting points have been installed, which are activated centrally by the company once a certain temperature threshold is reached.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute's forecast, temperatures in Prague on Saturday are expected to reach 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, while Sunday's highs are predicted to be around 30 to 32 degrees Celsius, with the possibility of thunderstorms.