Italy's waterways enter critical drought phase as northern regions declare emergency

The Po River Authority (ADBPO) reported on Friday that northern Italian waterways are in a 'critical state' from drought, with weather forecasts offering little prospect of relief, according to The Local Italy. Separately, the Veneto region, which encompasses Venice and the northeastern plain, declared a state of emergency on Thursday after recording more than a quarter less rainfall from January to May compared with the same period in 2025.

For Umbria and the central Apennines, the crisis signals a broader water stress that extends beyond the Po basin. The region depends on springs, mountain streams, and groundwater reserves that feed into the Tiber and its tributaries. Umbrian agriculture—from the olive groves of the lower valleys to the wheat fields of the Sibillini foothills—relies on consistent water availability through the growing season. A prolonged drought in the north, combined with the summer heat that has already gripped central Italy, threatens to spread water scarcity inland.