Alarm bells are ringing in Sicily: the warnings of recent months have gone unheeded and the water crisis is worsening.
How often do we turn on the tap without thinking about where the water comes from? It is an act we do every day, as if it were a matter of course. But it only takes a water crisis to make us realise how precious it is. Without water, everything stops: homes, cities, the countryside. In short, it is the basis of everything, and when it is lacking, there is trouble.
In recent years, however, water has become an emergency issue. In summer, between record heat and drought, it seems increasingly difficult to find enough. In the countryside, farmers are struggling with ruined crops, and in the city there is talk of rationing. It is as if we are dealing with something we thought would never be a problem.
Then there is the issue of infrastructure. Many of our water networks are old and dilapidated. In some areas, more than half of the drinking water is lost in transit. A real waste. And even when investment is made to fix things, the results are never immediate. It takes money, time and a long-term vision, but often the only thing that gets done is the urgent.
Among the most talked about solutions are desalinators, machines that turn salt water from the sea into drinking water. Sounds like a brilliant idea, doesn’t it? And partly it is, but there is one small problem: it is expensive. Not only do desalinators use a lot of energy, but they only work well if the whole system is well organised, which is unfortunately not the case in many parts of Italy.
Desalination in Sicily: a missed opportunity?
In Sicily, where water has been a burning issue for years, it was decided to focus on desalination. There are three plants – in Trapani, Porto Empedocle and Gela – which, with an investment of 100 million euros, could make a difference. The problem? They have been abandoned for years and it will not be easy to get them back into operation.
Stefania Marino, a member of the European Parliament, does not mince her words: these interventions are “late and not very decisive”. And she is right: even if the plants are restored, the energy costs could be unaffordable for many families. And then there is the problem of leaks in the water network: if water continues to leak, what is the point of producing more?
A partial solution to a huge problem
Even desalination plants, as innovative as they are, cannot be the final solution. They only work well if they are part of a broader plan that includes repairing pipes, reducing waste and raising awareness of water conservation. Without an integrated approach, you risk just plugging holes without really solving anything.
For Sicily, the challenge is enormous: it is not enough to bring old systems back on line; a change of mentality and priorities is needed. Without serious and coordinated action, the risk is that the taps will continue to run dry, leaving families and communities with no answers and no solutions.
