Drought emergency: how climate crisis and human activities affect water crisis

“Water crisis” and “Drought emergency” are what, more and more often, is reported in the media in Italy in the face of increasingly intense drought periods. 

Some effects of climate change, such as high temperatures and low rainfall, are among the significant causes of drought. Especially in Italy, the situation is exacerbated by unsustainable management of water resources and outdated infrastructure.

According to the latest IPCC report, conditions could even worsen. In fact, analyses of future climate scenarios predict an increased risk of drought, with a particularly significant increase in the Mediterranean region.

What is meant by drought? A complex and multidimensional phenomenon

Drought is generally defined as a phenomenon that develops gradually following a long period of low rainfall, causing a hydrogeological imbalance. 

However, since it is a complex and multidimensional event, its definition often remains subject to flexible interpretations. Different types of droughts are interrelated but vary according to the duration of the event. The four categories of droughts can be summarized as follows:

1. Meteorological drought: constitutes the most common definition, referring to drought as a persistent lack of rainfall, often accompanied by other climatic factors such as high temperatures, intense winds and low humidity aggravating the event. 
2. Agricultural drought: develops when the continued absence of precipitation (meteorological drought) results in a decrease in soil moisture, causing water stress on plants and thus reducing crop yields.
3. Hydrological drought occurs when a persistent soil moisture deficit decreases stream flow and water storage in reservoirs, significantly reducing water availability.
4. Socio-economic and environmental drought: includes the set of impacts resulting from the imbalance between water resource availability and demand in the social sphere, in protecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and in economic activities.

What are the causes of drought? How human beings contribute to increased risk of water scarcity

Drought is a natural phenomenon whose main trigger is the variability of rainfall or snowfall (for high-altitude areas). However, the increase in drought episodes that have occurred in recent years, both in terms of duration, frequency, and intensity, can be attributed mainly to anthropogenic activities. 

Human actions over the past century have generated increasingly evident climatic changes: rising temperatures and changes in precipitation and snowfall regimes contribute to making drought events increasingly common and impactful. In Italy, for example, increasingly dry winters are observed, with a reduction in snowfall in the Alps, which is critical for replenishing reservoirs.

Human activities also contribute to increased water scarcity or water stress, which occurs when the demand for water resources exceeds the availability of natural ecosystems. These actions include:

• Excessive water withdrawals and unsustainable resource management: in Italy, groundwater extraction seems to occur at excessive rates, so much so that the OECD has classified the country as one with a medium to high level of water stress.
• Outdated water infrastructure: In Italy, due to damaged pipes, up to 42% of the water fed into the systems is leaking.
• Growing urbanization and land use: increased urbanization and land use reduce the capacity of the soil to absorb and retain water.

What are the consequences of drought? Economic risks and environmental impacts

The first sector to feel the effects of drought is usually agriculture. In fact, according to FAO, 83 per cent of all drought damage worldwide is recorded by the agricultural sector. In 2022, the severe drought in Italy resulted in a loss of production of the entire agribusiness sector of about 6 billion euros. 

Other sectors affected by drought damage are the energy sector, where water plays a crucial role in hydropower production, and the tourism sector, closely linked to recreational activities in rivers and lakes. In addition, the arid climate due to drought contributes to favourable conditions for an increase in forest fires, which have devastating consequences for forests and woodlands.

In addition to the resulting economic impacts, drought is also observed to negatively affect the environment. Aquatic ecosystems suffer the most significant damage, where a shortage of water resources leads to the degradation of the ecosystem itself, resulting in a loss of biodiversity that affects fish, plants, and other organisms. 

Finally, the deterioration of natural systems and the decrease in biodiversity lead to a consequent reduction in ecosystem services, which are essential for humans and life on Earth.

How to counter drought risk? Sustainable resource management and nature-based solutions

In this context, the need and urgency to adopt a new integrated approach to water resource management and identify appropriate solutions to adapt to drought impacts emerge.

Integrated planning and management of the water resource at the basin scale that ensures equitable water distribution among all its users (agriculture, energy, civil uses, and the environment) is a first step toward long-term protection of the resource. Water should be delivered according to its availability, respecting “ecological runoff” standards. Investments and structural interventions are also needed to reduce distribution network water losses.

Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are a virtuous and influential contribution to coping with drought. Infiltration forests are an example, as these allow recharging aquifers while ensuring new habitats for biodiversity. Retention basins, on the other hand, store rainwater and serve as a water reserve in times of drought. Nature-based Solutions also contribute to the well-being of citizens by creating new recreational opportunities and supporting farmers in more sustainable irrigation practices.

Etifor’s contribution

Etifor is helping to safeguard water resources by implementing nature-based solutions such as Bosco Limite, the largest infiltration forest area in the Veneto region. Other actions include environmental improvements implemented in the Middle Brenta area through the LIFE Brenta 2030 project. 

These actions include implementing nature-based Solutions such as wetlands, meadows, and lowland wetland forests, which help increase the quantity and improve the water resource quality while preserving local biodiversity.