“We have a resource, the sea, which needs to be looked at more carefully. I do not rule out the use of seawater desalination plants.” It is a clear concept and, above all, a precise project presented on Monday by the president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, as a strategy to combat the drought that has hit his region, reports Il Messaggero, as quoted by Rador.

Among the hypotheses being considered for water recovery is the creation of seawater desalination plants. According to the International Desalination Association, this system has already been adopted in 183 other countries, with a total of about sixteen thousand installations, but it has yet to be determined in terms of its implementation in Italy.

“We have to understand how much it will cost us in terms of energy, because turning salt water into fresh water requires energy,” Zaya emphasized. But if we manage, even with renewable sources, to implement a system that leads us to a circular economy, why not?”

From project theory to practice: “The Israelis are doing it, other countries are doing it, and cities like Dubai are full of gardens and palm trees, all supported by desalination.” In a word, Jesolo will be a kind of little Dubai, or almost.

In terms of numbers, the Middle East leads the way in the use of desalination plants, where 47 percent of the drinking water produced is desalinated seawater, but there are also examples in Europe, starting with Spain, which already had 765 plants in 2021. . Implementation of such a strategy requires resources and time.

Not forgetting the complexity of bureaucratic procedures. Meanwhile, we are dealing with a water shortage that is affecting the daily lives of families and the country’s economy.

Limited water resources have direct consequences for agricultural and industrial production. Thus, in anticipation of desalination plants that could become a model for the entire country, Zaya is also thinking about an anti-waste ordinance.

“We are working on it,” he announced, “I always hope it will rain, but in the meantime I urge Venetians not to waste water resources, to avoid watering their gardens and other such activities.” I don’t want to go so far as to advise you to think about how many times you have to flush the toilet, as someone else did, but understand for yourself that the less water we use, the better.”

The problem exists and the consequences are visible. According to Coldiretti’s analysis of Isac Cnr data, the start of 2023 in the north of the country is “the warmest on record, with temperatures 1.44 degrees above average in the first two months” and less rainfall than normal.

And it should be taken into account that this situation is confirmed after the year – 2022 – in which there was a significant decrease in precipitation: 30 percent less.

Extraordinary episodes, but which, in fact, are no longer exceptional. Rare precipitation in winter and drought phenomena in the warm season are already becoming a habit.

“While Italy loses 1.89 percent of rainwater every year, we developed a pond project with ANBI to create a network of small reservoirs distributed throughout the territory, without the use of cement and in balance with the territories, in order to conserve water. and distribute it as needed to citizens, industry, and agriculture.”

The most affected area during this period is the Po River valley. In fact, water scarcity affects the entire peninsula to a greater or lesser extent. January and February saw an increase in temperature of 0.76 degrees from north to south.

risks

“The great lakes,” states the association Coldiretti, “currently have a percentage of filling that varies from 19 percent in Lake Como, to 36 percent in Lake Garda, to 40 in Lake Maggiore, while the hydrometric level of the Po River near the Becca bridge is – 3.2 %. meters”.

From growing wheat, fruit and vegetables to livestock, the drought risks bringing products made in Italy to their knees.