Comparing the average rainfall annually, in the period 1991-2020, with the threshold indicated in 1970
In the period 1991-2020, the average annual rainfall in Italy is close to 255 billion cubic metres, i.e. about 18% less than the threshold indicated in 1970. The Anbi Observatory on Water Resources recalculates the national rainfall trend over 50 years after the last National Water Conferencedating back to 1970 and which indicated the 300 billion cubic meters of rain that bathed Italy annually.
“The photograph, which emerges today, not only confirms a contraction of meteoric events, but certifies the image of an Italy overturned in water, designed by the climate crisis”, underlines the Anbi. Until 3 years ago, the ranking of the rainiest regions was headed by Friuli Venezia Giulia (the ‘basin of Italy’ with 1238.7 mm), followed by Trentino Alto Adige, Valle d’Aosta, Veneto, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria (all areas currently affected by drought); following came Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, Emilia Romagna and then followed by the others with Sardinia (516.2 mm) bringing up the rear.
“Today it is precisely the Northern Territories that are suffering the most – comments Francesco Vincenzi, president of the National Association of Consortia for the Management and Protection of the Territory and Irrigated Waters (Anbi) – The example of Sardinia is illuminating which, from the thirstiest region of the country, has been able to adapt, acquiring major reservoirs and water schemes to move water between territories. In the absence of official summary data, we put our analysis at the service of politics, because it is indicative of the trend, from which to start to fill the framework of the Water Decree with content”.
“The data confirms the need for infrastructure the territory with small and medium-sized reservoirs capable of retaining a greater quantity of water to be used in times of need – adds the general manager of Anbi, Massimo Gargano – The important thing is that the decision-makers, as also happened in the recent past, do not get distracted by some meteoric event, which does not resolve a now endemic situation as also demonstrated by our analysis”.
“The coming months – concludes Vincenzi – can only see a collective effort to manage a situation of full-blown drought in territories of fundamental importance for the made in Italy food industry; at the same time, however, it is necessary immediately initiate measures to increase the resilience of communities and their economy to the new climatic situation: from making existing buildings more efficient to creating new, indispensable works. Italy must become a water construction site for the years to come”.
Source-www.adnkronos.com