Publications Freshwater
in Europe Major
European Watersheds Po
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Each year about 27.9 billion m3 of water are withdrawn, 5.1 billion of which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
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