The fragile water chain
First voltage. With little snow falling, in hot and dry years like 2022 and 2023, there is a greater need for water for irrigation. Traditionally, in March, farmers in the Po Valley look at the great northern lakes and the levels of the Adda, Ticino or Adige to understand what season it will be, and whether or not they can sow their fields. This year too will be a very complicated season.
“We recall that the large subalpine lakes – above all Garda, Maggiore and Lario – are regulated lakes. Their regulation allows the downstream waters to be used for irrigation. Behind the subalpine lakes are the large catchments. And above the catchment basins there are the large accumulation plants (lakes and artificial reservoirs) created largely for hydroelectric purposes”, explains Roberto Barbieri, big boss of Edison’s hydroelectric sector.
Already last year these lakes dropped below the minimum reservoir levels to help feed as much as possible the valley watercourses for irrigation purposes, and for the maintenance of biodiversity. But if it never rains, how long can this system of communicating vessels work?
First voltage. With little snow falling, in hot and dry years like 2022 and 2023, there is a greater need for water for irrigation. Traditionally, farmers in the Po valley, in March, look at the great northern lakes and the levels of the Adda,
of Ticino or Adige to understand what season it will be, and whether or not they can sow their fields. This year too will be a very complicated season.
“We recall that the large subalpine lakes – above all Garda, Maggiore and Lario – are regulated lakes. Their regulation allows the downstream waters to be used for irrigation. Behind the subalpine lakes are the large catchments. And above the catchment basins there are the large accumulation plants (lakes and artificial reservoirs) created largely for hydroelectric purposes”, explains Roberto Barbieri, big boss of Edison’s hydroelectric sector.
Already last year these lakes dropped below the minimum reservoir levels to help feed as much as possible the valley watercourses for irrigation purposes, and for the maintenance of biodiversity. But if it never rains, how long can this system of communicating vessels work?
“Is groundwater worth more in the mountains or in the plains? Is the tourist on the Riviera or in South Tyrol worth more? This is the great dilemma that we will face in the coming months”, admonishes Trogni. The risk of arguing with the farmers and the large valley irrigation consortia is once once more just around the corner. Already last year there were strong tensions between Trentino-Alto-Adige and Veneto.
“Usually in winter and early spring the release of water occurs substantially for hydroelectric use”, continues Barbieri. “Last year and this year, due to the drought, we were asked to stockpile water to help agriculture in difficulty”, something that the big players in the hydroelectric sector – Enel, Edison, A2A, Alperia or Dolomite Energia gathered in the trade association Confindustria Elettricità Futura – have done and are doing, regardless of the legislative concessions. Which is not always easy, however. We are talking regarding large operators who are often listed or have public ownership or large shareholders behind them to answer to.
