Managing Water Scarcity and Droughts: The Po Experience

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the case of the Po river basin. After describing the case study area and its vulnerability to drought, we address the characteristics and the effects of drought in the Po river basin, based on the empirical evidence on the socio-economic impacts of drought events occurred so far. Then, we illustrate and discuss the approach to drought management, taking into consideration the key planning documents and experiences. Our work shows that the Po river basin has reached a turning point, as concerns water resources and drought management. The approach adopted by the local public institutions is essentially reactive; however, it is here maintained that proactive and structural measures are required in order to anticipate and prevent better the negative effects of drought.