Diesel spill stretches 28 kilometres along Milan waterways from Magenta to Darsena

Origin and spread of the spill

An oily substance identified as diesel spread across 28 kilometres of the Navigli canal network after entering the water during scheduled sewer maintenance in Magenta on 4 September 2026. The contamination moved downstream from the Pontevecchio area of Magenta along the Naviglio Grande, reaching the western outskirts of Milan overnight. A small volume of hydrocarbons entered the Darsena basin in central Milan, prompting an emergency response across multiple municipalities. Strong odors of spent oil were reported in central Milan canal districts frequented by residents and visitors. Local police forces across towns along the waterway were mobilized alongside regional environmental agency technicians from ARPA.

Emergency containment operations

Firefighters from the Milan provincial command deployed five vehicles to halt the movement of the slick in coordination with Civil Protection and municipal authorities. Responders positioned seven floating containment barriers at intervals along the canal path, including installations near Abbiategrasso, Trezzano sul Naviglio, and Corsico. Near Canottieri Milano, crews installed absorbent booms and deeper barriers across a stretch of 500 to 600 metres to trap oily water and contaminated algae. The operational strategy focused on pushing the liquid mass toward a canal lock at the junction of Via Conchetta, Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, and Via Darwin to compact and pump out the fuel. Marco Granelli, Milan councillor for security and civil protection, described the initial containment results.

At the level of Canottieri Milano along about 500 to 600 metres, booms were installed, orange rolls of material absorbing contaminated surface water, and deeper barriers to intercept, for example, algae that absorbed the oily matter. The operation was substantially successful and the Darsena and Naviglio Pavese are saved, with few residues passing the barrier. Work is now continuing at the level of Via Ascanio Sforza and Tibaldi. The problem remains upstream, in the Magenta area.

Agricultural protection and recovery efforts

The Consorzio Est Ticino Villoresi deployed personnel to clean the Darsena using absorbent pads and carried out recovery work in Gaggiano. Consortium teams also monitored the courses of the Naviglio Grande, the Naviglio di Bereguardo, and the Naviglio Pavese. Water authorities closed the intake gates of irrigation canals to prevent hydrocarbons from entering agricultural supply channels. The closures aimed to shield surrounding rice paddies and protected natural habitats within the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano. Emergency crews filled 15 tanker trucks with waste oil pumped from the canal waters, an amount equal to 30,000 standard water bottles. Alessandro Rota, president of the Consorzio Est Ticino Villoresi, outlined the ongoing response measures.

From the earliest hours we deployed personnel and equipment to contain the spread of the substance along the Navigli system. We are intervening on the Darsena and in Gaggiano and we closed the mouths of the irrigation canals to protect rice crops and the natural areas of the Parco Sud. The monitoring will continue until the critical situation is completely overcome.