ISPRA joins WaterWiseEU
Communication campaign launched by the European Commission to spread awareness of water-related problems and possible solutions
According to ISPRA studies, a negative trend in the natural availability of water resources is observed in Italy.
Future scenarios outline a reduction in the volume of annual precipitation and an increase in average temperature. In 2022, our country reached an all-time low in annual water resource availability with 67 billion cubic meters of water, 50% less than the annual average for the period 1951-2023.
In 2023, the reduction in annual water resources compared to the same historical average was 18.4%. The deficit was more contained also due to the intense rainfall in May 2023 which caused the flood events in Emilia-Romagna.
43.6% of Italian surface waters (rivers, lakes, marine-coastal and transition waters) are in good or better ecological status, 75.1% are in good chemical status. According to forecasts, in 2027 85% will be in good or better ecological status, 89% in good chemical status.
As for groundwater, 79% is in good quantitative status (forecast to 2027: 92%) and 70% is in good chemical status (forecast to 2027: 86%).