Publications Freshwater in Europe Major European Watersheds Po

 

Freshwater in Europe - Facts, Figures and Maps
- Contents, Credits
- Summary
- Freshwater Resources
- Freshwater Consumption
- Freshwater Quality
- Freshwater Ecosystems
- Major European Watersheds
- Water Policy and Institutions
- Glossary
- llustrations

Fresshwater in Europe in PDF

 

Danube - Dniepr - Don - Douro - Ebro - Elbe - Garonne - Guadalquivir - Guadiana - Loire - Oder - Po - Rhine - Rhone - Seine - Tagus - Vistula - Volga

PO

Ancient: Padus, Italian: Po.

Length (km): 650
Drainage Area (km2): 74 000
Discharge (m3/s): 1 470
Countries: 3
Population: 17 000 000
Sea at Mouth: Mediterranean
Ramsar Sites: 9

 

The Po River basin is the largest Italian basin, covering an area of 74 000 km2 (70 000 km2 in Italy, 4 000 km2 in Switzerland and France). The Po crosses the northern part of Italy for over 650 km and discharges its water into the Northern Adriatic Sea at an average 1 470 m3/s. Its delta, covering about 380 km2, is regarded as one of the most complex estuarine systems in Europe.

The Po river basin area can be divided into two parts: the North side and the South side . On the North side, the water flow from 16 000 km2 is regulated by five large lakes. These lakes are directly connected to the main tributaries of the Po River, maintaining a continuous interchange of ground water and surface water between the lakes and rivers. The lakes have an important role in the tourism industry, but are affected by eutrophication.

The Po area is a strategic region for the Italian economy, with significant agriculture, livestock, industry and tourism. Covering some 24% of the national territory, with a resident population of about 17 million inhabitants, the basin accounts for 40 percent of the country’s GDP. Among the industrial activities in the area, the most important are chemicals, engineering, textiles, paper and food production.

Each year about 27.9 billion m3 of water are withdrawn, 5.1 billion of which are for industry, 0.6 billion for agriculture and 2.2 billion from wells for domestic and commercial use.

The two main urban and industrial agglomerations are the municipalities of Milan and Turin. The population density is about 232 inhabitants/ km2 for the whole basin. The highest density of settlements is found in the Lambro-Olona-Seveso catchment basin, south of Milan, with 1 478 inhabitants/km2, while the lowest densities are in the upper part of the Trebbia and Parma sub-basins, with 24 to 26 inhabitants/km2. Some 37% of Italy’s industry is located in the basin, employing 47% of the workforce and accounting for 48% of the total national electricity consumption. There are some 280 power plants (269 hydroelectric, 11 thermal power).

The principal farming areas in the Po catchment are localised in the Po valley, covering 45% of the basin’s total area, 50% of which is irrigated. Most of the agricultural land in the Po valley is arable land, drained by artificial ditches, and irrigated during summer. The major crops that are grown are wheat, maize, fodder, barley, sugar beets and rice. The agricultural sector is an important consumer of water, resulting in a high level of water wastage due to infiltration and discharge. The main environmental problems are related to chemical and organic fertilizer input, and to the use of pesticides.

Nutrient concentrations have decreased in the last decade, as new sewage networks and wastewater treatment plants were constructed.

Institutions

There are many public institutions in the area that are responsible for water quality. The principal ones are the Basin Authority of the Po River (ABP), the Regional Councils (RC) and the Regional Agencies for Environmental Protection of the involved regions: Veneto (ARPAV), Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA FVG), Emilia Romagna (ARPA EMR), Lombardia, Piemonte, Liguria, Trentino Alto Adige, Valle d’Aosta; the Italian Ministry of Environment (ME) and the National Agency for Environmental Protection (ANPA). The Councils of Provinces have some local responsibilities. The Po Basin Authority has promoted the creation of a Consultation Committee including a number of stakeholders. However, this committee has not yet been officially established.

 

 

Po Basin Authority: www.adbpo.it