23 November 2005 Injected seawater could save Venice
A dramatic new solution to save Venice from sinking has been proposed today by Italian engineers and geologists.
Under the project led by the University of Padua, seawater would be pumped into the ground beneath Venice, causing the sand to swell and lifting Venice by 30cm.
According to Giuseppe Gambolati, head of the project, this would return Venice to the same height that it was at 300 years ago.
"If the pilot project proves successful, we will see an immediate benefit, even though gradual, while the complete elevation will be achieved in around ten years," said Mr Gambolati.
Although the project is in its initial phases, the reduced costs that the Padua team propose their project would create are likely to be attractive to the Mayor of Venice and the Italian government, which is at present spending £2.9 billion on a project to build floodgates across the lagoon to prevent further flooding.
Venice is flooded on numerous occasions throughout the year, sinking further while the level of the Adriatic Sea continues to rise. 
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