A prolonged drought and successive heatwaves have drastically reduced water reserves in Northern Italy. According to the weekly report by the Anbi Water Resources Observatory, reserves in Lombardy have fallen to less than half of the normal allocation for this period of the year. The major northern lakes are all well below average.

Lake Maggiore is steadily holding at -40 centimetres relative to the hydrometric zero, approaching the record low for the period registered in August 1976, when the level dropped to -50 centimetres. In the harbour of Arona, on the Piedmont shore, numerous boats rest on mud in normally submerged areas. The level has fallen below that of 2022 and is approaching the negative record of 1947.

The water crisis also affects the Po River, particularly dry in the Cremona stretch, and the Ticino River in the Pavia area, where dozens of boats are stranded along the river course.

The consequences affect multiple sectors. Francesco Gaiardelli, president of the Lakes, Mountains and Ossola Valleys Tourist District, reported the formation of foul-smelling algae that makes swimming difficult and indicated that navigation is no longer possible in some areas due to the excessively low water level. Gaiardelli also stressed the need to reconcile the interests of tourism operators, navigation, agriculture, and hydroelectric production.

According to Gaiardelli, drought now occurs every year, and he stated the need to invest in the territory and public works rather than in armaments. This statement expresses a personal position and is not shared by all interested parties.