A massive reserve of fresh water, twice the size of Loch Ness, has been discovered beneath Sicily’s Iblei Mountains. This substantial underground supply is estimated to hold about 17 billion cubic meters of water, lying between 700 and 2,500 meters below the surface. It could potentially be key to addressing Sicily’s severe drought, one of the worst in Europe.

Local politicians have urged for the water to be tapped, but experts caution that it's not that straightforward.

Professor Lorenzo Lipparini, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), stated: “It’s a very important study which could be fundamental to solving a problem that is putting Sicily in serious difficulty. According to our calculations, there could be an important reserve even below sea level.”

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The discovery was made by a team of researchers from the INGV, alongside the Universities of Malta and Rome Tre, with their findings published in November. However, traces of the water were reportedly first identified in the early 2000s when the oil company Maurel et Prom was exploring the area for natural gas.

Nello Dipasquale, a politician from Ragusa province where some of the water is located, has called on the regional government to capitalise on this resource. He said: “Last November we did not yet know that during the winter we were preparing to face it would not rain enough to avoid the serious drought that we are now seeing and, in light of how things went, the discovery of the two universities could be decisive in addressing this crisis with concrete actions.

“I asked the regional government whether or not they intend to start a project that could connect this water reserve to the network and use it in the most critical moments, just like the one we are experiencing.”

While this discovery is significant, experts emphasise the need for caution in considering it as a drought solution. Accessing the water requires careful assessment to determine if drilling could destabilise the geological structure. Additionally, drilling deep underground could take a month or longer, according to experts.

Professor Lipparini added: “Technically you could do everything very quickly from a practical point of view, but I do not know what the timing of the bureaucracy could be. However, I have already been contacted by the regional civil protection of Sicily for a meeting.

“They want to verify the feasibility of the project in the shortest possible time.”

If feasibility studies confirm its viability, the underground reserve could become a crucial resource not only for drinking water but also for agriculture and livestock, both vital to the island’s economy.

Sicily’s farmers are currently struggling as crops fail due to the drought, and some fear they may have to sell off livestock if conditions don’t improve.

*How was the underground reservoir formed?

The Iblei mountains, located in southeast Sicily, are the largest island in the Mediterranean. These mountains consist of gently rolling limestone rock. Using 3D models, researchers reconstructed the geological history of the region and discovered the water resource.

They believe the water dates back approximately six million years to a period known as the Messinian salinity crisis. During this time, Mediterranean Sea levels dropped dramatically, allowing rainwater to penetrate the Earth’s crust. The rocks in the region likely acted like a sponge, retaining the rainwater and trapping it when sea levels returned to normal.

Researchers also believe the water may be drinkable and could help alleviate Sicily’s ongoing drought crisis. Sicily has experienced an almost rainless year and record-high temperatures. The island is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with desertification threatening 70% of its territory. A recent study, referenced by Dipasquale, suggests that by 2030, one-third of Sicily could become a desert, comparable to parts of North Africa.