The future of water in Italy: transforming the water crisis into an opportunity for sustainability
Investment, innovation and sustainability: the challenge involved in harnessing the value of our blue gold.
From scarcity to solution: building a new water cycle
The ever-worsening situation of water scarcity - exacerbated by climate change, infrastructural fragmentation and an inefficient use of resources - now demands a total paradigm shift in how we manage water, globally as well as, crucially, in Italy. Extreme events, a decline in rainfall and outdated infrastructure are all jeopardising the availability of a resource that is essential not only for human wellbeing, but also for the economic and environmental stability of the country as a whole. Faced with these critical issues, there is an increasingly pressing need to adopt solutions capable of ensuring the safe, sustainable supply of water to all. Technologies such as desalination, wastewater treatment and circular reuse are essential tools for creating a resilient water system.
The climate crisis and water resources: an increasingly fragile balance
In a global context characterised by climate change, environmental crises and the pressures of a growing population, it has become clearer than ever that water is one of the most strategic and, at the same time, delicate resources to manage. Global warming is severely disrupting the water cycle in ways we can no longer ignore, influencing the distribution of precipitation, evaporation, and the availability of water resources. Indeed, 2024 marked the first time that average global temperatures surpassed the threshold of +1.5°C as compared to the pre-industrial era. In Italy, this increase was even more dramatic, reaching +2.7°C and further intensifying the situation of water stress. Ours was one of the most deeply affected countries in Europe in 2023, with only Belgium, Greece and Spain experiencing worse conditions.
In light of this, it is perhaps no surprise that despite its significant natural water resources, Italy is having to face some complex challenges, calling into question whether the national water system is truly fit for purpose.
The Value of Water Indices developed by the Community Valore Acqua for Italy and presented during World Water Day (Value of Water Indices 2025 | The European House - Ambrosetti) offer an accurate, up-to-date snapshot of the water situation across Italy.
A system under pressure: losses and inequalities
The numbers speak volumes: in many areas all over Italy, we are seeing water losses of over 40%, with highs of over 50% in certain regions in the South. This means that nearly half of the drinking water released into the network never makes it to the end users, as it is gradually lost on its journey through the country’s obsolete, fragmented infrastructure. These inefficiencies are further compounded by marked inconsistencies between areas: the performance of utility providers varies dramatically between North and South, in terms of both quality of service and investments in the system.
A circular economy of water: a strategic priority
According to the latest data, 42% of Italian municipalities are still not equipped with an adequate purification system, resulting in violations of EU law that cost the country over €700 million in fines. According to a 2024 report by Community Valore Acqua, currently, only 4% of all wastewater in Italy is actually reused, as against a European average of 17% and a high of 35% used by Spain. These figures make it abundantly clear not only that the country is lagging far behind its neighbours, but also that it has vast amounts of untapped potential in terms of reuse. This translates into our country wasting 9 billion cubic metres of a potentially reusable resource every single year: an amount that could satisfy the annual water needs of over 27 million people.
These figures cast light on the fact that a circular approach to water use is no longer optional - it is an urgent necessity. A comprehensive overhaul of the entire integrated water system is needed - from collection to discharge - with a view to maximising reuse, salvaging resources (such as energy and nutrients from sewage sludge), and reducing environmental impact.
The need for more conscious governance
The data and analyses provided by the Value of Water Indices offer a wealth of highly valuable information which can be used to guide public decisions and hold to account every actor involved in the sector. That said, any such change also requires stronger, more coherent governance that is capable of rising above our current fragmented water management landscape to plan long-term, future-proof infrastructure investments. It is worth bearing in mind that Italy invests an annual average of just €49 per inhabitant in the water sector, as compared with €100 in France and €120 in Germany: a gap that clearly highlights the need for a dramatic turnaround.
A commitment to the future of Italy’s water supply
Sustainable water management is one of the most significant challenges of our modern age. Italy already has all the resources - natural, industrial and intellectual - to successfully address it, but it is crucial to act with vision, determination and responsibility. In light of this, companies such as Fisia Italimpianti - part of the Webuild Group - play a strategic role in promoting a modern, efficient and sustainable approach to water management. For almost a hundred years, Fisia has been a key international player in constructing desalination, water treatment and advanced purification facilities, helping to ensure that over 20 million people worldwide have access to clean drinking water every single day.
The international projects developed by Fisia meet the most stringent international standards in terms of sustainability, as well as promoting the adoption of an approach centred around a circular economy of water.
