June 20, 2024, 5.24pm
1 minute read
PALERMO – In the Agrigento area it happens that the municipality of Cammarata has water every day, the neighboring one, San Giovanni Gemini, is subjected to heavy supply shifts. How is it possible? The first manages its water resources independently and does not give its water to its neighbors. A frequent situation in the area, especially in the mountain municipalities where the sources exist.
Drought in Sicily, the paradox
The paradox is reported by the engineer Giuseppe Riccobene, who has worked on water issues on several occasions, including with the prefectural management of the emergency. The engineer distinguishes between the drinking water system (domestic uses of water) and that of agriculture and animal husbandry, a much more difficult problem to solve. The engineer is convinced that the water in the taps of the houses could arrive regularly, rather than with shifts lasting more than a week as has happened for 50 years in Agrigento.
Although the law allows autonomous water management, “The system should be subjected to serious controls, but this is not happening. The excess water, which mainly flows from springs, is very often not captured and used and ends up in rivers. Autonomous management can exist, but only under certain conditions. And it is precisely these that are not examined.”
The sieve networks
As for the sieve networks, the latest data on water dispersion concerns Agrigento stands at 58%. “Dispersion – explains Riccobene – is measured by calculating the difference between the water that enters the network and that which is billed. 58% include losses but also possible thefts.” The Agrigento water network was supposed to be rebuilt, but the financing expired at the end of last year without the work being able to start. First a bad tender was made, then it was redone, but in the meantime the funds were returned. “Recently the president of the Region said that the work will be refinanced. We’ll see,” says Riccobene.
Drought, the news and the LiveSicilia special
Published on
June 20, 2024, 5.24pm
