Researchers uncover massive underground freshwater reservoir near Venice

A team of researchers involved in the European SWAMrisk project has detected a large underground freshwater storage, known as an aquitard, beneath the north-Italian coast near Venice. The formation consists of deep, clay-rich geological layers that act like a sponge, retaining water that remains relatively insulated from the rising salinity affecting surface aquifers. Climate change has caused higher temperatures and droughts, reducing river flows and allowing seawater to push inland, which has already raised the salt content of shallow groundwater to 14 g/L at seven metres depth.

The newly found reservoir could help mitigate water scarcity for the broader region, including agricultural needs, according to regional council member Matteo Baldan. However, researchers caution that the total volume and practical usability of the water are still under investigation.