Water resources in the northern Po
Valley are under increasing pressure due to prolonged drought,
the Po River Authority Observatory said on Thursday.
"The water crisis is not letting up in much of the Po Valley
area," especially in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions where the
situation of "overt water stress already highlighted a month
ago" has worsened in recent weeks in light of the prolonged
drought, said the Po River Authority Observatory on Thursday.
"The shortage is of particular concern for the coming months,"
the authority added.
On Thursday the Federation of water, environmental and energy
companies (Utilitalia) said 19 municipalities in Piedmont now
facing the highest level of stress, up from seven.
"Considering the amount of rainfall expected in the coming
weeks, the situation is likely to get even worse," Utilitalia
said.
Severe water shortages are being experienced in significant
parts of the urban areas and reservoirs are being supplemented
with tanker trucks, the federation added.
Low levels of rain and snowfall this winter have exacerbated an
already difficult situation after the severe drought and long
series of heat waves Italy endured last summer hit its water
resources badly.
Mild winter temperatures have also brought forward the melting
of snow on the mountains.
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.
Last week the government said it was preparing a decree to
create a special 'super-commissioner' to address the effects of
the drought and set up a task-force (cabina di regia) made up of
officials from several ministries.
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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