Northern Italy Secures Summer Water Supply for Agriculture Amid Drought
The consortium Cellina Meduna confirmed that the Pordenone area will have sufficient water for the summer irrigation season, thanks to mountain reservoirs and the Ravedis dam, which can store and release water gradually. Regional officials Valter Colussi, Massimiliano Zanet and assessor Mattia Tirelli praised the system as a safeguard while much of northern Italy faces water scarcity.
In Piemonte, the Confcooperative Agroalimentare e Pesca Piemonte urged regional authorities to create a permanent body to manage reservoirs, withdrawals and irrigation infrastructure. Data from ARPA Piemonte showed surface water availability at the end of June was 31 % below the long‑term average, and temperatures were 3.5 °C above normal, heightening stress on crops, soil and employment. Representatives highlighted the need for transparent, coordinated water allocation to protect harvests and the broader agri‑food supply chain.