The campaign by Legambiente, Goletta dei Laghi 2025, has revealed concerning data regarding the health of the waters in Lombardy’s lakes, highlighting the issue of lake pollution. Specifically, out of 32 monitored sites, 15 have been classified as “heavily polluted,” with four of these located along the Lombard shore of Lake Garda: the mouth of the canal in Salò, the mouth of the stream in Padenghe sul Garda, the mouth of the Lefà stream in Toscolano Maderno, and the site in the San Francesco Oasis in Desenzano del Garda. These results indicate an improvement compared to 2024, but a decline compared to 2023, when many samples were found to be within legal limits.
During a press conference held on June 27 in Milan, representatives from Legambiente emphasized the importance of shared policies to address the persistent issues faced in the water basins. Emilio Bianco, spokesperson for Goletta dei Laghi, stated that the high concentrations of microbiological pollutants indicate structural problems rather than isolated incidents. The data collected between June 10 and 19 by technicians and volunteers highlighted the urgent need for effective water management interventions to ensure the health of local ecosystems and surrounding communities.