Italian Policy Framework for Water in Agriculture - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 335

During the last years, for both private and public irrigation, there has been the
problem of increasing groundwater withdrawals. 9 This is due to climate changes that have
caused an increase of drought events with consequent water availability reduction. 10 In
the last 20 years, the area of national territory that has suffered from drought events
increased from 8% to 20%. This increase creates strong worries regarding agri-
environmental problems as soil salinisation and loss of fertility, desertification and
subsidence on costal areas.
Regarding the condition of infrastructures for irrigation, based on an estimation, water
losses along the networks are 30-50% of water withdrawals; this is not due only to
infrastructure characteristics, but an insufficient maintenance and systems' low
technological level.
The efficiency level of water use management shows some points of backwardness,
except in some specialised areas. In a world where efficiency represents the most
important aim, a critical factor is the low incidence of water use planning. 11 In many
cases, agencies do not have a deep knowledge of water requirements and consumption in
the areas that they manage. Control instruments are lacking and requirements' calculation
methods are not diffused.
With respect to management aspects, a critical factor is represented by the “pricing
system”. In Italy a pricing system does not exist, but instead there is a “contributive”
system, 12 often based only on the extension of the area that farmers intend to irrigate,
without consideration of the water requirements of different crops or water consumption.
This system does not assure efficient water use.
Despite technical progress realised in the last few years, high water consuming
irrigation methods (submersion and sliding) are still widespread, in particular in the
North, where national rice production is concentrated (Table 1).

Finally, a typical characteristic of some areas is the worsening of water quality. 13
Irrigation ditches have often a wastewater drainage function; pollutants are transported to
irrigated soil. This happens more in areas with elevated density of livestock and maize
production. Moreover, in the last decade tourism (which is more and more important) has
produced environmental pressure especially during the summer (the Mediterranean Sea is
the area with the highest tourism pressure of the world. 14 )

9.

National Environment Protection Agency (2004).

10. National Environment Protection Agency (2004).

11. Pontrandolfi A. (edited by) (2005).

12. Farms pay a contribution to public agency for irrigation benefit.

13. Pontrandolfi, A. and Papaleo, A. (2004).

14. National Environment Protection Agency (2004).