It’s here. Not in a few years; now.
Water reserves are being depleted rapidly in northern Italy, threatening farming as the region’s main river dries up, local officials warned Friday.
The Po River District Basin Authority (ADBPO) said the situation was “extremely critical” and available stocks in the river basin would be exhausted in 10 days at the current irrigation rate if there was no rainfall.
As a result of the reduced flow rate in the Po River delta, salt water from the Adriatic Sea is pushing 20 to 25 kilometers (12.5 to 15.5 miles) upstream, partly preventing the irrigation of fields.
The authority also said the ecosystem could be affected.
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Piedmont, which borders France, has been one of the regions in Italy worst affected by the heat waves that have hit Europe.
Water levels in major lakes in the region have fallen. Lake Maggiore’s fill rate dropped 17% — or 33 centimeters (13 inches) — in the space of a week.
Lake Como fell by 15%, the ADBPO said.
Once the water goes…
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