Ischia and Procida face water crisis following power blackout

The islands of Ischia and Procida experienced a water supply crisis caused by an electrical blackout at the Mugnano pumping station near Naples. The blackout was triggered by a double fault in the underground medium-voltage cables supplying the station, which is essential for powering the underwater pipes that supply water to the islands.

While power supply to the station was restored by E-Distribuzione in the early afternoon, the impact on water distribution varied by location. Procida returned to a regular supply status following a period of controlled water usage. On Ischia, while low-lying areas and municipalities such as Casamicciola and Lacco Ameno saw a return to normalcy, higher altitude areas including parts of Forio, Barano, and specific streets in Ischia continued to experience intermittent supply or complete shortages.

The emergency occurred during the peak summer season, coinciding with high tourist numbers and high temperatures, which increased water demand. Authorities expected full regularization of the water network once local storage tanks reached sufficient levels.