The July 30 Meeting with Alberto Cirio
According to the Unione montana, the upcoming discussion on July 30 marks the first formal political step to evaluate whether the multi-year water storage project can move beyond preliminary drafts. Marco Bonatto Marchello, president of the Unione montana and mayor of Frassinetto, stated that initial concepts for the reservoir date back to 2019. The meeting aims to determine if the political, technical, and financial conditions exist to advance the proposal into an official regional initiative.
Addressing Regional Drought and Climate Shifts
Promoters argue that shifting precipitation patterns and shrinking mountain snowpacks make traditional water collection systems inadequate. Irregular rainfall and rapid snowmelt cause water to run off quickly when supplies are already high while creating severe shortages during dry summer months. According to municipal leaders, the proposed reservoir would capture mountain runoff to secure supplies for drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and environmental safety across a broad area of Piedmont.
Project Scope and Three Design Options
Engineers have developed three distinct design options for the dam, which vary based on valley conformation, rock stability, and available water volume. Bonatto Marchello emphasized that the size of the basin must be determined through rigorous geological and geophysical assessments rather than political choices alone. Preliminary geological analyses have begun with input from the Politecnico di Torino, though extensive subterranean testing of rock fractures and slope stability remains necessary before any final decisions are made.
Potential Regional Impact and Water Supply
Proponents estimate that the reservoir could serve an area comprising up to 250,000 residents, potentially feeding into existing infrastructure such as the Valle Orco aqueduct to supply the Chivassese region. Paolo Coppo, mayor of Pont Canavese, noted that water preservation has become increasingly urgent, though he stressed the need for thorough technical feasibility studies given the town’s proximity to potential construction sites. Meanwhile, Igor De Santis, mayor of Ingria, highlighted that the basin could also serve as a strategic reserve for firefighting operations during dry summer seasons.
Local Concerns and Calls for Transparency
The proposal has drawn scrutiny from local representatives who demand greater transparency regarding environmental impacts, construction timelines, and long-term maintenance costs. Raffaele Costa, a minority municipal councilor in Pont Canavese, formally requested comprehensive data on geological stability and sediment management. Accumulated sediment can reduce a reservoir’s storage capacity over decades, prompting calls to evaluate alternative solutions such as smaller distributed basins, aquifer recharging, and repaired aqueduct networks alongside the primary dam proposal.
Regional Council Debate on Water Storage
The debate aligns with broader legislative efforts in Piedmont. On Monday, July 27, the Piedmont Regional Council scheduled a review of an agenda concerning a regional reservoir plan introduced by Forza Italia regional councilor Mauro Fava. The regional government must decide whether to fund extensive environmental, seismic, and economic evaluations for these long-standing infrastructure proposals. As the July 30 meeting approaches, administrators face the challenge of balancing long-term water security for thousands of residents against the significant financial and environmental costs of transforming the alpine landscape.
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