The heavy rainfall of recent days " has certainly improved the situation regarding Sardinia's reservoirs, helping to raise levels in the main basins after months of difficulty. But despite the more encouraging data, the danger is far from over, and the recent rains are no guarantee for the success of future irrigation campaigns, starting in 2026."
The president of Anbi Sardinia, Gavino Zirattu, raised the alarm . "After several years of drought, we cannot afford to let our guard down. The recent rainfall improves the situation, but it doesn't solve structural problems that have been dragging on for years." For Zirattu, the real issue remains the lack of structural planning, "the result of a regulatory framework that is no longer adequate to address the rapidity of climate change , and which over the years has concentrated strategic responsibilities in a single regional body."
Anbi Sardegna (the association that brings together land reclamation consortia) reiterates the need to address a series of priorities that can no longer be postponed: repairing leaky pipelines ("Today, over 40% of the water released into the network is lost before reaching the countryside. This is a hemorrhage we can no longer tolerate");
Complete the metering plan ("It is unacceptable to talk about modern water management without accurate measurement of incoming water and actual use"); Rehabilitate leaky pipelines ("Today, over 40% of the water released into the network is lost before reaching the countryside. It's a hemorrhage we can no longer tolerate"); Complete the reservoir interconnection scheme ("In the Northwest, Nurra must be served by the Coghinas system on one side and the Temo Cuga system on the other. Only in this way can we ensure resilience and production continuity"); Build new reservoirs where needed, where they are guaranteed, and where all sustainability criteria are met ("We must not be afraid of building new reservoirs. Dams have saved Sardinia from drought and, at the same time, have played a crucial role in preventing hydraulic and hydrogeological risks").
Anbi also provides updated data on the status of the reservoirs. The worst situation is in the Leni River, in Villacidro, with a filling level of 19%. There are 8.55 million cubic meters today, only 1.33 million cubic meters more due to recent rainfall. In the Nurra region, little to no rain has fallen. Lake Cuga, in Uri, is 36% full: the recent inflow was 188,000 cubic meters. The Tirso system is also experiencing difficulties: the Cantoniera dam (Lake Omodeo) is at 52%, with 234.4 million cubic meters. In recent days, 16 million cubic meters have entered.
The paradoxical situation at the Maccheronis remains . The Torpè dam can hold approximately 22 million cubic meters; it stands at 11,716, or 51%. Millions of cubic meters of water will continue to be dumped into the sea for days due to a combination of bureaucracy and security concerns . The risk is that if it doesn't rain by the dates set on paper (called the "Static Retention Plan"), new restrictions will be necessary in the coming months.
Overall, Sardinia's dams hold 792 million cubic meters, 53% of the 1.49 billion cubic meters, the maximum authorized volume . "The situation has improved," summarizes Gavino Zirattu, "but we remain below the historical average for the period."
(Unioneonline)