The ritual is the usual, unfortunately. Italy faces yet another summer without water. Scenes seen and reviewed with a political copyright of the right, left, center, of technicians and those who remember them most. Twelve Regions are under high water stress and it's not over, says the European House – Ambrosetti. “The situation in Italy – explains the CEO Valerio DeMolli – requires immediate and concerted action. A concrete commitment is needed from all the actors involved, from institutions to citizens, to promote sustainable management practices and invest in innovative technologies". The manager does not mention the minister Matteo Salvini, but once again reminds us that problems can be solved by modernizing and making infrastructure more efficient. The only system to combat the anguish of millions of people.
Long and risky summer
Politics has studied the phenomenon, for at least twenty years, it has allocated resources to quench the country's thirst but it has not shown good results. We read studi interesting about the money to spend and the wonders of management company companies. Father Alex Zanotelli last week in Naples he chained himself to a tree to reiterate that water is a "good that must be removed from the market and the logic of profit". Memories of the 2011 referendum. The Government in turn challenged the Puglia law which transferred 20% of the shares of the Pugliese Aqueduct to the Municipalities. In such turmoil the Community Water Value for Italy with the Ambrosetti studio took an updated snapshot of the situation. In 2022, 51,5% of renewable water resources have been lost and since the worst (summer) never ends, Liguria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Marche are now in green code. En passant we remember that the Pnrr has foreseen more than 4 billion euros to be spent on the water emergency.
In 2023, rising temperatures and the effects of human action have generated unspeakable pressure on water resources, the experts write, so that in Europe Italy is fourth in terms of water deficit. Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Puglia are the most exposed regions in absolute, then come Campania, Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Molise, Sardinia and Abruzzo. Alarmism or not, keep cans and tanks ready at least until the first days of autumn while agriculture and hydroelectric energy are already suffering.
Agriculture and hydroelectricity in difficulty
Among the data in the Community's White Paper we know that honey production has reduced by 70%, that of pears and cherries by over 60%. These are indicative numbers because there is so much else that is not right and the irrigation systems are semi-paralysed. From campaigns to energy, the emergency grows. The lack of water does not turn the turbines for electricity production. Hydroelectricity is crucial among clean sources, but dams and reservoirs are halved.
2022 was the black year with decreased rainfall and unrecognizable snow cover. We are still paying the consequences. It rained less throughout Europe but Italy is the Cinderella of infrastructure, incapable of fixing pipes, behind on systems, chatty about public spending.
The amount of water lost in 2022 – notes the White Paper – is equal to that needed to irrigate 640 thousand hectares of land. We take De Molli's opinion to say that to have some hope of improvement, collection and storage can be optimized by activating 20% of the exploitable volumes of water already present in the large dams. “Only through a integrated approach and far-sighted, which must also be carried forward by citizens, we will be able to guarantee the water security of our country and the prosperity of future generations" conclude those of the Community. But perhaps it is time to bring the White Paper to Minister Salvini.
