ROME – Italy has declared a state of emergency for the north due to the ongoing severe drought. With the emergency plans, the authorities can intervene more easily and take measures against the shortage of water. There will also be financial support.
The state of emergency applies until the end of this year for five regions in the valley of the Po, the country’s longest river. The area has been struggling with a lack of water for a long time. Even recent rains could barely raise the Po’s water level. The salty seawater of the Adriatic Sea has penetrated the mouth of the river tens of kilometers inland.
Water rationing threatens more and more residents. In some cities, for example, the car is no longer allowed to be washed. Some of the water is also lost through poorly maintained pipes.
