The Italian Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Piqueto Fratinspeaking to Radio 24, reported today in lowering the water level in many lakes and rivers of the country, and in the measures which the government of Rome might take. “In the coming weeks an assessment of the whole situation will have to be made and, if necessary, water supply may be restricted in certain areas“, said Piqueto Fratin.

“In the meantime, in the next two, three months, we hope they can fill the dams, some rains are expected. Otherwise, there may be consequences”, emphasized the Italian minister, according to which “a series of moves must be made with the aim of filling the dams as much as possible”.

The Italian Research Foundation, meanwhile, emphasized that15% of the country’s population lives in areas threatened by drought. And the newspaper Corriere della Sera adds that, due to climate change, 3.5 million Italians are at risk of running out of drinking water.

At the same time, the Italian press writes today that the apparent decrease in rainfall, mainly in the northern regions of the country, may in the near future cause a new significant increase in the cost of all fruit and vegetable products, with a new jump in retail prices. Last year, the economic loss suffered by the Italian agricultural sector from water shortages exceeded six billion euros.

More specifically, in many parts of it, the river Po (the largest in the country) is completely dry these days, while as regards the three largest lakes in the country, the situation is as follows: in Lake Garda, the water level is recorded at 38 %, in that of Como 20% and in Lake Maggiore 38%.

And Lower Italy, finally, is facing substantial problems, since in the region of Campania, with Naples as its capital, the level of the Garigliano river has decreased by one meter and thirty centimeters in the last month.