by InTrieste
Regional authorities in Friuli Venezia Giulia said they are closely monitoring worsening water shortages in the province of Udine, where prolonged high temperatures and declining water supplies are placing increasing pressure on agriculture.
Officials said the scarcity of water has forced restrictions on irrigation in recent weeks, as authorities seek to preserve dwindling reserves while prioritizing water for farming. The measures come amid one of the region’s most severe dry periods in decades, with officials describing conditions as even more challenging than those experienced during the major European heatwave of 2003.
Governor Massimiliano Fedriga said the regional government was working with water management authorities and agricultural organizations to make the most effective use of limited water resources while supporting communities most affected by the drought.
Agriculture has borne the brunt of the crisis, with farmers facing mounting concerns over crop damage as extreme temperatures accelerate evaporation and increase irrigation needs. Regional Agriculture Councillor Stefano Zannier said that even areas still receiving irrigation are experiencing stress because of the persistent heat.
Since July 15, water withdrawals for irrigation have been managed under guidance from Italy’s river basin authority, with reduced water flows introduced to conserve supplies stored in reservoirs. Despite those efforts, officials said reserves have continued to decline as the unusually hot and dry weather has persisted.
The regional government said it is investing more than €110 million to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and improve resilience to increasingly frequent droughts linked to climate change.
The funding includes €28.6 million allocated between 2022 and 2024 through the regional “Piano Laghetti,” a program aimed at expanding water storage capacity, and €81.7 million from Italy’s 2021-2027 Development and Cohesion Fund under an agreement between the national and regional governments.
Additional financing includes €21.1 million from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and €35.36 million provided under separate national funding programs. Much of the work will be carried out by Friuli Venezia Giulia’s land reclamation and irrigation consortia, particularly the Consorzio di Bonifica Pianura Friulana.
Regional officials said the projects are intended to improve long-term water management, increase storage capacity and help safeguard agricultural production as prolonged heatwaves and drought become more common across northern Italy.
