Drought in Piedmont, over 100 municipalities limiting water supplies: the Po River records a 75% deficit.

Piedmont enters the most delicate phase of summer 2026 with water availability significantly below average and with over a hundred municipalities forced to adopt ordinances to limit non-essential water use. The restrictions primarily affect the irrigation of vegetable gardens and gardens, filling swimming pools, washing cars, and other activities that require significant drinking water consumption. This situation quickly became critical despite a spring characterized by rainfall that had initially fueled more positive expectations.

Seventy-one ordinances in the province of Alessandria

The province most affected by the measures is Alessandria , where 71 municipalities are affected, particularly in the areas of Ovada, Valle Bormida, Predosa, and Rivalta Bormida. Restrictions have also been introduced in the Turin area, including the municipality of Quincinetto, and in the Cuneo area, where consumption containment ordinances have gone into effect in Sampeyre, Pianfei, Beinette, and Caraglio, among others. Local authorities are asking residents to avoid any waste and to reserve drinking water exclusively for domestic, food, and sanitation purposes.

Tankers already operational in the most fragile areas

Drinking water availability is not yet considered a widespread emergency, but in several areas, especially in mountain villages and towns, networks and springs are no longer able to independently guarantee normal supply levels. According to data presented by the Region, approximately 50 municipalities, with a total catchment area of ​​approximately 25.000 inhabitants, are already using tankers to increase the amount of water in aqueduct tanks. The interventions are being concentrated in the areas most exposed to the reduction of springs and the increase in consumption due to high temperatures.

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The summit in the Piemonte Skyscraper

To address the crisis, a Water Emergency Roundtable was convened at the Grattacielo Piemonte building . It was attended by Regional President Alberto Cirio and regional councilors for Agriculture Paolo Bongioanni, for Mountains Marco Gallo, and for the Environment Matteo Marnati, who was responsible for coordinating the work. Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Regional Environmental Protection Agency, agricultural associations, parks and protected areas, irrigation consortia, prefectures, the Metropolitan City of Turin, provinces, government bodies, and managers of the integrated water service and aqueduct networks.

Cirio: "We can't wait even a minute."

President Alberto Cirio emphasized how the persistent heat and lack of rainfall are creating an emergency that requires particular urgency in the agricultural sector. "We cannot wait even a minute on this issue, and we are working with the Valle d'Aosta Region and the Canton of Ticino to request an increase in the water supply delivered to Piedmont for agricultural use," the governor stated. The goal is to identify new resources for irrigation, also evaluating increased water release from dams and hydroelectric plants.

Agriculture and rice fields are among the most exposed sectors

The greatest concerns concern the agricultural sector, already under severe stress due to high temperatures, evaporation, and reduced water flow. Among the crops most exposed is rice , one of Piedmont's flagship crops, which requires constant water availability throughout the various stages of its production cycle. The Region is therefore working with irrigation consortia, agricultural associations, and the National Rice Board to assess remaining usable reserves and plan the distribution of available resources.

Possible request for a state of emergency

The Region is monitoring the situation daily and has not ruled out requesting a state of emergency if weather conditions do not improve. "Regarding drinking water, around a hundred municipalities have already issued ordinances to regulate water management, especially in mountain villages and towns, where we already have to deploy water tankers," Cirio explained. The request would be evaluated in coordination with the other Regions affected by the drought, with the aim of obtaining resources and compensation for the most affected sectors.

June 2026 among the hottest in the historical series

The report presented by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency depicts an overall water deficit at the beginning of the second ten days of July 2026. In June, an average of 62 millimeters of rain fell in the Po basin , a deficit of 36% compared to the monthly average for the period 1991-2020. The drop in precipitation was compounded by a regional temperature anomaly of 3,5 degrees above average , placing June 2026 among the warmest Junes ever recorded in Piedmont, with values ​​close to the all-time records of 2003.

The heat wave has increased evaporation

The heat wave recorded at the end of May also contributed to the current crisis, significantly increasing evapotranspiration. The heat accelerated water loss from soils and vegetation, accentuating soil water stress and exacerbating the effects of low rainfall. The result is a reduction in the amount of water reaching rivers, streams, reservoirs, and surface aquifers, while irrigation demand and domestic consumption increase precisely during the hottest periods.

Severe drought in the Tanaro, Scrivia and Po basins

The synthetic index developed by regional technicians signals severe drought conditions across the entire Tanaro and Scrivia basins , as well as the stretch of the Po River upstream from its confluence with the Dora Baltea. Surface water resources are overall 37% lower than the period average. During the first ten days of July, most of the monitored hydrometric sections recorded deficits exceeding 40%, confirming a widespread reduction in river flow.

The Po River at Isola Sant'Antonio loses three quarters of its flow

One of the most alarming data concerns the Po River at Isola Sant'Antonio, in the province of Alessandria. In this section, the river recorded an average flow of just 62 cubic meters per second , corresponding to a 75% deficit compared to historical values ​​for the period. Therefore, in that stretch, Italy's main waterway has only a quarter of its normally available water, with significant consequences for ecosystems, irrigation, agricultural activities, and the ability to feed the connected canals.

Marnati invites citizens to reduce consumption

Regional Environment Councilor Matteo Marnati has urged residents to use water wisely, especially during peak hours and days. The Region will carefully analyze the data for the next ten days, which is considered crucial to determining whether the water system will be able to cope without further restrictions. The recommendation is to avoid withdrawing drinking water for deferrable and non-essential activities, strictly adhering to the ordinances adopted by mayors.

A working group to prevent crop losses

Agriculture Councilor Paolo Bongioanni noted that the Region already has an interdepartmental working group in place to monitor the risk of crop failure due to water scarcity. The group meets regularly to process data provided by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency and provide the agricultural sector with guidance on possible developments in the crisis. "At the end of July, we will submit to the Regional Council's Agriculture Committee the draft law to reform irrigation consortia, which will structurally revolutionize the governance of water management for our agricultural and agri-food production," Bongioanni anticipated.

Water requests in the Aosta Valley and the Canton of Ticino

To support agriculture, Piedmont has initiated discussions with the Aosta Valley and the Swiss canton of Ticino, requesting an increase in the amount of water released into the region. At the same time, releases from reservoirs connected to hydroelectric plants are being evaluated in an effort to ensure additional water supplies for irrigation canals. This is a necessary solution to limit immediate damage, but it must be managed carefully to avoid further compromising available reserves in the coming weeks.

The forecasts do not indicate a significant improvement

The weather forecast for the next two weeks does not suggest a quick solution. The high pressure forecast across much of Europe is expected to continue bringing above-average temperatures to Piedmont. Precipitation will be sporadic and primarily due to thunderstorms, often intense but localized and too brief to replenish water reserves. According to technical assessments, these episodes will not be sufficient to fill the accumulated deficit in waterways and surface resources.

Piedmont prepares for new measures

The next few days will be crucial in determining whether to extend the restrictions to other areas and formally initiate the process for declaring a state of emergency. The immediate priority remains ensuring drinking water for the population, supporting municipalities already supplied with water tankers, and preventing the loss of agricultural production. However, the crisis also highlights the need for structural interventions on networks, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and resource management, in a climate where periods of intense heat and irregular rainfall risk becoming increasingly frequent.