Italy wants to pump out Lake Garda: dispute over water breaks out – “We have to prevent”
Created: 06/22/2022, 05:42
By: Martina Lippl
Lago di Garda: Lake Garda represents Dolce Vita for many vacationers.
© Joana Kruse/imago
Italy is suffering from a historic drought.
Now a dispute has broken out about the water in Lake Garda.
The fronts are hard.
Garda - Lake Garda is to be pumped out - a message that sounds rather strange to many holidaymakers.
Lago di Garda - the largest lake in Italy, with its dark blue water probably symbolizes the Dolce Vita.
But in Italy the situation is serious.
It has not rained in some regions of Italy for around four months.
There was hardly any snow in winter.
There was no meltwater in the spring.
The river Po practically dries up.
It's the worst drought since the end of World War II - the lowest water level in 70 years.
The hot summer months are yet to come.
Italy suffers from historic drought: drinking water rationed in northern Italy
Drinking water is scarce in Italy.
Water is already being rationed in over 170 communities in Piedmont and Lombardy.
By decree, water can only be used for essential purposes such as drinking and food preparation.
Farmers risk losing all of their crops due to a lack of irrigation water.
Water shortage in Italy: fight for water from Lake Garda begins
The river Po is on "red alert" (allerta rossa).
Is his fate sealed after 120 days of drought?
The water of Lake Garda is supposed to save the Po in Italy.
This idea from the authority that manages the water of the Po basin - "Autorità di Bacino Distrettuale del Fiume Po" - meets with resistance.
The mayors of the Lake Garda municipalities react promptly.
Historic drought in Italy: almost all that is left of the Po river is a trickle.
© Manuel Romano/imago
Lake Garda communities: "We don't give away our water"
"We don't give away our water," was the reply from the Lake Garda communities.
According to the Lake Garda municipalities, the water from Lake Garda would hardly alleviate the lack of water in the Po Valley.
It would be a drop in the bucket, according to local media.
In addition, Lake Garda needs the water itself and for the Mincio River with its canals.
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The Lake Garda communities are harshly critical of the authorities.
"You cannot use our lake as a reservoir that is filled in winter and emptied in summer for the sake of downstream consumers," Pierlucio Ceresa, Secretary General of Lake Garda Municipalities, told the Roman daily
La Repubblica.
In order to solve the river's problems, water must be saved in winter.
Pierlucio Ceresa proposes the construction of new reservoirs as well as new water-saving irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation.
"We must prevent, not cure."
"Don't ask about our water," declared the President, Minister for Regional Affairs Mariastella Gelmini in the
Quotidiano Nationale.
It is becoming clear that the acute lack of water is intensifying the struggle for water reserves.
In the middle of the holiday season: Lake Garda is suffering from drought
Lake Garda is also suffering from the drought.
Its water level is almost half a meter lower than last year.
Compared to other lakes, however, the location on Lago di Garda is rather good.
It will not be the waters of Lake Garda that will save the Po's fate, professor at Milan Polytechnic Renzo Rosso told Italian news agency
Ansa
.
In his opinion, it was playing with fire, as
can be read in
La Voce del Trentino .
Rosso seems to be too daring to use the water of Lake Garda and to associate it with an enormous amount of energy.
In his opinion, it would be better to use water from the Alpine lakes, hoping that they will fill up again.
(ml)
