Italy's Po River Dries Up: Seawater Intrudes

As of June 27, 2026, Italy's longest river, the Po, is experiencing critically low water levels due to an ongoing heatwave. Seawater has begun to seep into the waterway, reaching approximately 20 kilometers upstream from its mouth. This intrusion poses a severe threat to the Po Valley, a key agricultural heartland responsible for producing milk used in Parmesan cheese.

The Po River's flow has dramatically reduced, falling below 300 cubic meters per second from an average of 1,500 cubic meters per second for June. Farmers report that canals have been shut off to prevent saltwater contamination, leaving fields parched and cracked. This situation has never occurred so early in the year, sparking fears of a devastating drought.

Further downstream, the encroaching saltwater is contaminating farmland that was historically reclaimed from delta marshes. While barriers have been installed to impede the saltwater, their effectiveness is limited by the river's weak current. The situation is compounded by soaring temperatures in the lagoons, which have caused algae blooms that harm shellfish and require constant clearing from fishing nets.

Experts warn that while the situation is not yet a full-blown drought, the water reserves are dwindling, with less than three weeks of water left at the current rate of consumption. This prolonged heatwave is causing significant problems for both agricultural production and local fishing communities.