The Po River Basin Authority says flows are well below seasonal averages, with levels at several monitoring stations approaching or exceeding records set during the severe drought of 2022. Exceptionally low levels are also affecting supplies, with Ansa reporting tanker deliveries to more than 100 municipalities in Piedmont and Lombardy. Further downstream, near Parma, tributaries and irrigation canals serving intensive fruit and vegetable farming are also running low. Farmers report that water rationing is already affecting irrigation schedules, while the basin authority has identified the stretch below Piacenza as particularly vulnerable as falling water levels expose tree trunks and other debris. Officials warn that heat and low water are accelerating algae and invasive species, disrupting navigation and recreation.