About Pozzillo Dam

Pozzillo is the largest reservoir in Sicily by authorized capacity, impounding 150 million cubic metres of water from the Salso river near Centuripe in the province of Enna. The earthfill dam was completed in 1959 and stands 56 metres above the valley floor. Located in central Sicily's agricultural heartland, Pozzillo is the backbone of the irrigation infrastructure that supports the vast citrus, olive, and cereal farms of the Catania and Enna provinces. The reservoir serves the Consortia of Reclamation that distribute water to thousands of smallholdings across the interior of the island. In drought years — which have become increasingly frequent under climate change — Pozzillo's levels determine whether summer crops survive or fail across a wide swath of eastern Sicily. The Salso, also known as the Imera Meridionale, is one of Sicily's longest rivers, rising near Enna and flowing south to the Mediterranean. Its catchment encompasses a predominantly clay landscape prone to erosion, which historically delivered significant silt loads to the reservoir. Pozzillo's strategic importance makes it the reference point for assessing the island's overall water security each summer.