The water situation in Italy has reached alarming levels, with a 51.5% loss of renewable water resources in 2022 compared to the historical average. This is what emerges from the data of Community Water Value for Italy by The European House – Ambrosettiwhich portrays a worrying picture for our country.
Data on drought in Italy
According to these data, twelve regions they are facing a high water stress, with Liguria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Marche particularly affected (you can consult the complete list in the photo news). Climate change and human activity have exacerbated water scarcity, positioning Italy as the fourth Most affected country in the European Union, preceded only by Belgium, Greece and Spain.
The analysis shows that agriculture and hydroelectricity are the most damaged sectors. Agriculture in Italy, already under numerous pressures, is now facing a growing water shortage, which threatens both food production and the sustainability of agricultural activities. Water scarcity has resulted in significant reductions in production of honey (-70%), pears (-63%) and cherries (-60%).
Even the hydroelectric sector, a crucial source of renewable energy for the country, is seriously affected by the decrease in water resources, with the risk of damaging Italy’s ability to meet energy demand through the use of clean sources. The forecasts for the future are not rosy. A further reduction in water resources is expected by 2100with a 40% drop at a national level and peaks of 90% reduction in the South.
The 2022 water crisis, considered unprecedented, saw a dramatic decrease in total precipitation and a 60% deficit in snowpack compared to the 2010-2021 decade average. High temperatures meant that only 13.5% of precipitation managed to recharge aquifers, raising further concerns about the long-term sustainability of water resources.
The data reveals that the volume of water lost in 2022 would be enough to irrigate approx 641,000 hectares of land, an area equal to the entire agricultural surface of Lazio. Furthermore, this quantity of water corresponds to the annual consumption of over 14 million people, equivalent to the population of Lombardy and Piedmont, and to the quantity used for production by 82,000 manufacturing companies, representative of the industrial fabric of regions such as Emilia-Romagna, Friuli -Venezia Giulia and Veneto.
It is clear from the data that the situation requires urgent and coordinated intervention between institutions and citizens to promote sustainable water management and invest in innovative infrastructure. The objective is to optimize water collection and storage, activating 20% of the potentially exploitable volumes already present in large Italian dams. This integrated approach is critical to ensuring water security and prosperity for future generations.
