Severe Water Shortages Threaten Central and Southern Italy’s Agriculture
Central and southern Italy are grappling with a critical water shortage, with agricultural water supplies projected to last only three more weeks, according to local authorities and media reports.
The most acute situations are in Abruzzo, Apulia, and Sicily. Other regions, including Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sardinia, are also rapidly depleting their reserves, as reported by Italy’s National Association of the Agricultural Water Board (ANBI).
“Three more weeks, and there will be no more water available for agriculture in central and southern Italy,” ANBI warned, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
One particularly dire situation is at the Occhito reservoir, a vital source for Apulia’s farming and drinking water, which has dropped by over 15 million cubic meters in just eight days.
Sicily is also facing extreme shortages. Earlier this month, local authorities advised tourists to consider alternative destinations due to the water crisis. According to state-run Rai News 24, as of July 26, six out of 29 reservoirs on the island no longer have usable water.
In Sardinia, dams are holding only 1,048 million cubic meters of water, which is 57 percent of their authorized volume. This shortage has led to rationing and interruptions in affected regions, ANBI reported.
The water crisis coincides with Italy anticipating a record tourist year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2018 and 2019. The dwindling water supplies pose significant challenges not only for agriculture but also for tourism, a vital part of the region’s economy.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
