Another major European river falls to record-low levels

Tengrinews.kz — Water levels in the Po River in northern Italy have fallen to a record low amid the summer’s fourth heatwave, exposing the dried-out riverbed near Pavia and raising concerns over water supplies and crops, according to Euronews.

At the confluence of the Ticino River, boats now sit in shallow, murky water surrounded by sand, algae and exposed gravel banks. The Po River Basin Authority says water flow is well below seasonal averages, while levels at several monitoring stations are approaching or exceeding record lows seen during the severe drought of 2022.

The Po River is vital to northern Italy’s agricultural sector, including the so-called Food Valley around Parma, where fruit, vegetables and rice depend on its water. The exceptionally low river level is also affecting water supplies, with Ansa reporting that tanker trucks are delivering water to more than 100 municipalities in Piedmont and Lombardy.

Near Pavia, the riverbed has narrowed to a shallow channel, leaving large stretches exposed and making it increasingly difficult for leisure boats and rowing clubs to operate. In the rice-growing Lomellina area, authorities warn that without significant rainfall, conditions could worsen and farmers may have to rely increasingly on groundwater and emergency measures.

Further downstream, near Parma, tributaries and irrigation canals supporting intensive fruit and vegetable farming are also running low. Farmers say water-saving measures have already been introduced, affecting irrigation schedules, while the basin authority describes the stretch below Piacenza as particularly vulnerable, with falling water levels exposing tree trunks and other debris.

In Turin, the Po has turned into a slow-moving channel covered with a carpet of algae. Municipal services are using excavators mounted on barges to clear dense aquatic vegetation near the city centre. Regional data show that water flow through Turin has fallen by more than half since June, while at a downstream monitoring station near Sant’Antonio Island, discharge has at times dropped to around a quarter of normal levels.

Authorities warn that the heat and low water levels are accelerating algae growth, disrupting navigation and water-based recreation. The prolonged heat has also worsened drought and wildfires across Europe, putting further pressure on water resources.