Mirano’s water ditches field visit

Mirano's water ditches field visit

In February 2026, the University of Padova (UNIPD) joined a field visit organised by the Municipality of Mirano together with the local land reclamation authority (Consorzio di bonifica) and a group of farmers and landowners.

The aim was to better understand the everyday challenges involved in maintaining the traditional network of water ditches. These systems are essential for preventing flooding in agricultural areas, but their maintenance is not straightforward. In many cases, even a single ditch, stretching for several hundred metres, is divided among several owners, as these ditches are privately managed rather than public.

When a problem occurs, such as a blockage or localised flooding, the entire stretch often needs to be inspected on foot to identify where the issue lies.

During the visit, UNIPD accompanied local stakeholders, both the municipality and the farmers, in addressing one of these situations in practice. This kind of activity reflects one of the project’s aims: to explore how to develop a replicable model of cooperation between public authorities and private landowners. Such an approach is important because keeping these drainage and irrigation systems functional requires shared responsibility, as they serve both individual farms and the wider public good.

The photos show moments from the field visit, including a typical traditional ditch with hedgerows on both sides – now increasingly rare in this landscape – as well as examples of flooding that can occur when maintenance is insufficient.

WatHer