May 6, 2025, 12:13 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Venice’s unique beauty attracts countless visitors each year. However, overtourism is not the only issue facing the northern Italian city: It is continuously sinking while sea levels rise due to climate change. For years, experts have predicted Venice’s downfall. Now, ambitious plans aim to prevent this scenario.
TRAVELBOOK reported on a study by the U.S. organization Climate Central, which, after analyzing satellite data and models, shows which cities could soon disappear due to rising sea levels. According to the calculations, Venice will be completely underwater by 2100 at the latest. A dramatic forecast — but one that should not really surprise anyone. It is known that the “floating city” sinks by about 1 to 2 millimeters annually. One reason: Venice was built on wooden piles in the soft soil of the lagoon, which naturally sinks slowly. Additionally, groundwater extraction in the 1960s and 1970s accelerated the sinking. It is also known that the oceans are expanding due to climate change, and sea levels continue to rise. An Italian engineer now wants to prevent this combination from ending in disaster for Venice by means of elevation.
Overview
Engineer Wants to Save Venice by Raising It
So far, the storm surge barrier “Mose” has protected Venice from flooding. It uses 78 mobile barriers that are activated during high water, specifically separating the lagoon from the sea by being raised with compressed air. The protective measure has been in operation since 2020 — and quite frequently. Critics fear it disrupts the sensitive ecosystem of the lagoon, as the barriers hinder the natural circulation of water. Additionally, high project costs — far exceeding initial estimates — as well as delays and corruption allegations cast a shadow on the system’s reputation.
Pietro Teatini, an engineer at the University of Padua, believes he has a better idea. He has been working on it since the 1970s, as reported by “CNN.” His proposal involves pumping water into deep layers of earth beneath Venice. This way, the sinking ground is supposed to be raised by about 30 centimeters. The danger would not be completely averted, but Teatini believes it would buy Venice some time to find a permanent solution.
Details of the Radical Plans — and Their Possible Advantages
Specifically, the water is to be pumped into aquifers located beneath the lagoon city. Aquifers are groundwater-bearing rock layers made of sand, gravel, or porous rock that can reach depths of up to 1,000 meters and store water. This is to be achieved through a network of wells within a ten-kilometer radius around Venice, reports “CNN.” A thick clay layer under the lagoon is supposed to prevent water from rising. This would ensure a uniform raising of the city without causing damage to the historic buildings.
In a way, Pietro Teatini, who is a professor of hydrology and hydraulic engineering at the University of Padua, wants to attempt the opposite of what happened in the mid-20th century. As mentioned above, groundwater was extracted in Marghera’s industrial area. “This is where the idea came from,” he explains to “CNN,” “why not do the same thing? We develop drilling where we don’t extract water but inject it.”
Test Drilling Planned in Venice Before Raising
What may seem radical at first glance is absolutely appropriate in the engineer’s view. Since Venice is located on a lagoon — opening to the salty Adriatic Sea — there is no shortage of saltwater. This is crucial, he explains. It means that no freshwater reserves would be affected, and no water would need to be brought from afar.
But there are also risks. For example, a drilling radius that is too narrow could cause building damage. Perhaps you’ve seen the film “Casino Royale” (2006): In a scene set in Venice, a building collapses into the canal. Such events are to be avoided in reality. Before large-scale implementation, a test run is planned. According to the “CNN” report, a test drilling with a diameter of about 20 centimeters is planned at depths of up to 1,000 meters. A filter will be attached at the bottom, and a pump will be installed above it. As the water slowly seeps into the underground reservoirs, the land above gradually rises. The ring-shaped arrangement of wells could thus evenly raise the ground in the central lagoon. This is a crucial advantage, as uneven raising of individual islands could lead to instability, Teatini says.
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There Are Concerns, and No Start Date Yet
The method proposed by Teatini may superficially resemble fracking, as water is pumped into the ground under pressure. But Teatini firmly rejects this comparison. An important difference, he emphasizes, is that the pumping process is supposed to be controlled, preventing the breaking of rock. He stresses the need for an initial pilot project. Although it is in planning, a specific start date for the drilling is not known.
Concerns remain. Critics warn of geological risks and fear that particularly rapid or localized pumping could have unforeseen consequences. High costs could also arise again. The initial deep drilling tests could be relatively inexpensive (30–40 million euros), but full implementation would incur significantly higher costs.