Italy is facing a worsening water crisis as the Po River, the country’s longest waterway, has dropped to unprecedented low levels early in the year amid an intense heatwave. The river, which plays a vital role in irrigating farmlands across northern Italy's agricultural heartland, has seen its flow plummet sharply in recent days, raising concerns among farmers and environmental experts about the potential for a severe drought in July.

The flow of the Po River has fallen below 300 cubic meters per second, a significant decline from the usual average of around 1,500 cubic meters per second in June, according to Aipo, the interregional agency responsible for managing the river. Observers note that this drop has never occurred so rapidly or so early in the season. Sandbanks are expanding, water depths are shrinking to around one meter in some areas, and river navigation has become increasingly constrained, as reported by local surveyors.

The depletion of the river’s water is already affecting agricultural activities, particularly irrigation. Farmer Federica Vidali, who cultivates sunflowers near one of the Po River’s branches, described part of her field drying and cracking, with one of her two irrigation canals recently closed to prevent seawater intrusion that could harm her crops. She voiced frustration about the uneven distribution of water resources among farmers in the region.

Downstream, seawater has intruded approximately 20 kilometers upriver toward the delta, jeopardizing farmlands reclaimed from marshes over the past centuries. Authorities have installed barriers intended to block the saltwater, but their effectiveness depends on a sufficiently strong river flow—currently below the necessary threshold. Rodolfo Laurenti, an irrigation engineer managing the delta area, warned about the need for coordinated regional efforts to manage limited water resources and highlighted plans to build new dams or retention basins. However, he remained cautious, expressing doubt that such infrastructure alone would fully resolve the challenges.

The crisis is also impacting fishing activities. Clam fishermen near the river’s mouth are struggling with rapidly rising water temperatures, which have reached around 31 degrees Celsius. Warmer conditions have spurred algae growth, covering shellfish and complicating efforts to protect them from invasive blue crabs. Fishermen like Paolo Mancin reported high clam mortality linked to prolonged heat and algal blooms, conditions exacerbating existing difficulties.

Although winter rains were sufficient, the typical snowpack that refills alpine lakes feeding the Po has mostly melted earlier than usual due to climate change. Environmental expert Damiano Di Simine indicated that while the region is not officially in drought yet, water reserves may last less than three weeks if current trends persist. The Po Valley experienced a drought in 2022, but that event occurred later in the summer, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this year’s early water shortages.

The unfolding situation has prompted calls for increased solidarity among regional water users and more comprehensive planning to address the long-term impacts of climate variability on Italy’s key agricultural zone.