A Revolution in Water Management
Sicily’s reservoir system is outdated: many reservoirs are silted up or have not been inspected, preventing water from being retained during heavy rainfall.
Desilting and dam maintenance: Restoring the maximum capacity of existing reservoirs to turn them into vast storage systems that can absorb floodwater and retain water for periods of drought.
Wastewater reuse: Only a small proportion of water from treatment plants is reused in agriculture. Treating this water would make a constant flow possible, regardless of rainfall.
Repairing deteriorated networks: Water losses in Sicily’s pipelines often exceed 50%. Digitising the networks with IoT sensors can detect leaks in real time.
Resilient varieties: Genetic research, without GMOs, to select rootstocks that are more tolerant of soil salinity and prolonged periods of drought.
Protective infrastructure: Installing anti-hail nets and coverings to protect fruit, such as oranges, from mechanical damage caused by heavy rainfall and wind.
Addressing Hydrogeological Risk
Sicily is one of Italy’s most vulnerable regions. When the soil is too dry, it becomes impermeable; during heavy rain, mudslides occur.
Strategic reforestation: Planting native trees and shrubs, such as Mediterranean maquis, to stabilise slopes and promote water absorption into the ground, supporting groundwater recharge.
Nature-based engineering measures: Creating retention basins and modern drainage channels to manage extreme rainfall events and prevent towns and agricultural plains from flooding.
Energy Transition and Agrivoltaics
Sicily has a natural competitive advantage: sun and wind.
Agrivoltaics: Installing solar panels above crops. This creates a dual benefit: clean energy and a shaded microclimate that reduces plant evapotranspiration and saves water.
Rural energy communities: Making agricultural businesses energy self-sufficient and reducing the costs of water pumping and product processing.
The challenge is not to stop a climate that has already changed, but to transform Sicily into a model of circular water management, where every drop is collected, used and recycled.
