A feasibility study outlines the phases of remediation and the economic challenges for the environmental recovery of Sebino, including the possible presence of asbestos among the waste

by Marco Arezio

Lake Iseo, a scenic jewel nestled between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia (Italy), is facing a complex and urgent environmental issue: the presence of tons of rubber waste on its lakebed, accumulated over decades due to industrial activity.

In particular, the area of Tavernola Bergamasca has been identified as a critical point for the concentration of these wastes, which may also include hazardous substances such as asbestos, used in old industrial processes.

The feasibility study and proposed solutions

The Authority of the Iseo, Endine, and Moro Lakes commissioned a feasibility study to quantify costs and outline the necessary intervention methods to address the problem.

Entrusted to the company Thetis Costruzioni Srl, the study identified a two-phase intervention for the removal of the waste from the lakebed.

The first phase involves professional divers who, descending to depths between 10 and 50 meters, will manually collect the rubber waste, placing it in sealed containers.

These containers will then be transferred to boats for proper disposal. In the second phase, a special pump, called a "sorbona," will be used to suction the finer materials, which will either be treated on-site or sent to a suitable treatment plant.

The estimated cost for these operations is around 3.3 million euros, a figure that requires institutional efforts to secure funding. The Lombardy Region has already allocated initial amounts, but further efforts will be needed to complete the intervention.

The need for timely intervention

While the feasibility study has confirmed the technical possibility of removing the rubber waste from the lakebed, questions remain about who will bear the costs and how to secure all the necessary resources.

Legambiente, along with other environmental organizations, has expressed concern over delays in action and has emphasized the urgency of intervention.

According to the organization, funds are already available, and the risk is that the search for additional resources could become an excuse for not immediately addressing the problem.

The issue is further complicated by the possible presence of asbestos among the waste, a highly toxic material that requires even stricter disposal protocols. Therefore, the remediation is not only an environmental protection issue but also a public health matter, with implications far beyond the simple cleaning of the lakebed.

The role of local institutions and communities

Managing this problem requires the direct involvement of local administrations, regional institutions, and environmental organizations. The mayors of the affected municipalities, such as Tavernola Bergamasca and Predore, have already raised the issue and are working with the authorities to find a shared solution.

However, it is crucial that the G16 municipalities, the group of lakeside administrations, emerge from their apparent "slumber," as highlighted by Legambiente, and actively commit to ensuring the environmental protection of Sebino.

Conclusion

Lake Iseo represents an invaluable natural resource for local communities and tourism, but the presence of industrial waste on its lakebed poses a threat to both the ecosystem and human health.

The challenge of removing the rubber waste requires coordinated action between institutions, local communities, and associations, with significant financial and operational commitment. Only through timely and well-planned intervention will it be possible to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of this important lake basin.

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