Millions of Italians risk having
their tap water cut off in the coming months because of the
severe drought Italy is experiencing, especially in northern
regions, the head of the ANBI water-resource consortium said on
Thursday.
"According to the data we have available, it is reasonable to
believe that the tap water of at least three and a half million
Italians cannot be taken for granted," said ANBI President
Francesco Vincenzi.
He referred to data by the National Research Council (CNR),
according to which, between 6% and 15% of the Italian population
are living in areas exposed to severe or extreme drought.
Low levels of rain and snowfall this winter has exacerbated an
already difficult situation after the severe drought and long
series of heat waves Italy endured last summer hit its water
resources badly, causing huge problems for agriculture.
ANBI said the level of the Po, Italy's biggest river, was at a
record low.
It said rivers and lakes in central Italy were also under
extreme stress.
ANBI's warning comes after Environmental association Legambiente
on Monday sounded the alarm about the drought.
Citing figures from the CIMA Research Foundation, it said the
Italian Alps currently have a snow-water-equivalent deficit of
53% compared to the average of the last ten years.
This is worrying as snow is an important source of water in
spring and summer when, by melting, it ensures water supplies in
the months it is most needed.
This deficit is due to reduced precipitation levels this winter,
combined with mild winter temperatures that have brought forward
the melting of snow on the mountains.
Alpine snow is Italy's most important water reserve, since it
supplies the Po River basin.
Scientists say that extreme weather events like heat waves,
supercharged storms, flooding and droughts are becoming more
frequent and more intense because of climate change caused by
human greenhouse-gas emissions.
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