Po River Basin Faces Critical Water Shortage as Drought Hits Northern Italy

Water reserves in northern Italy are rapidly depleting as an intense drought reduces the Po River flow to about half of its normal volume. The Po River District Basin Authority warned that, at the current irrigation rate, the basin’s usable water stocks will be exhausted in roughly ten days. Salt‑water from the Adriatic Sea is already pushing 20‑25 km upstream into the delta, threatening both agriculture and the ecosystem.

Lake levels have fallen sharply: Lake Maggiore’s fill dropped 17 % in a week, Lake Como 15 %, Iseo 18 %, Idro 8 % and Garda only 5 %. In Lombardy, snowpack in the Alps is almost gone, cutting off the natural melt‑water supply that typically sustains rivers during summer. The Po’s water level at Cremona was recorded at –8.18 m below the zero‑meter mark.

Regional authorities have declared emergencies, with Veneto issuing a state of emergency and Piedmont planning an urgent meeting to consider increased releases from upstream reservoirs. Temporary relaxations of minimum ecological flow rules have been approved, and water‑saving measures are being urged for municipalities and farmers. The drought threatens irrigation for crops, lowers drinking‑water availability, and risks salinisation of soils in the Po delta.