The Sinistra Ofanto constitutes an important agricultural district and irrigation system, located within Ofanto River Basin, in the Apulia region.
The area where the Case Study will be implemented covers a surface of about 39,000 ha; it is bound in the south by the Ofanto river and in the south-east by the town of Cerignola. The local irrigation system was constructed during the 1980s for on-demand delivery schedule, and has been designed to satisfy water requirements of a cropping pattern based on olivetrees and field crops. The system is served by storage and daily regulation reservoirs supplied by a conveyance conduit, which originates from the Capacciotti dam (useful water capacity of 48 hm³).
In the last decades, a significant change has occurred, favouring the cultivation of more profitable and more input (water, fertilizers and pesticides) demanding crops. Hence, the performance of the water delivery network is worsening, the system suffers from inadequate discharge and pressure, and irrigation pumps work out of their optimal efficiency range increasing energy consumption and the cost of agricultural products. Moreover, during peak periods, a restriction in water delivery is imposed. As a result, farmers abstract groundwater from the local wells, and surface water directly from the Ofanto River. This additional supply partially covers the water deficit, which exceeds 21 hm³/yr.
The massive uncontrolled withdrawal of groundwater (about 2000 local wells exist, managed directly by farmers) periodically causes excessive drops of the groundwater table, saltwater intrusion in the aquifers, and subsequently results in the use of salty water for irrigation with degradation of soil quality. Overall, the excessive exploitation of water resources causes reduction of water quantity and degradation of surface and groundwater quality, compromising the conditions of ecosystems. The application of conventional fertilizers and pesticides causes leaching of residues in receptors and degradation of soil and water quality.
The above environmental issues result to conflicts between irrigation water use and the need for environmental conservation.
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