Leaks in the Italian water network represent a persistent and significant problem that requires immediate and targeted actions to address. Second the latest Istat report published in March 2024losses in municipal drinking water distribution networks in the year 2022-2023 they could have met the water needs of approximately 43.4 million people for an entire year. This figure, although impressive, is only one of many indicators of the extent of the problem.
Italy, despite being the third country in Europe for the withdrawal of drinking water per capita in 2022, is facing a paradoxical situation: while the demand for drinking water remains high, a significant amount of this precious resource is lost in distribution networks. This is further highlighted by the fact that municipal distribution networks deliver 214 liters of drinking water per inhabitant daily, a figure that remains significantly below that of 1999, with a reduction of 36 litres.
Water network leaks in Italy, worrying data: qHow much water is lost from aqueducts?
From what emerged from the Istat analysis, in Italy the volume of total water losses in the water distribution phase is equal to 3.4 billion cubic meters, 42.4% of the water injected into the network. The indicator has risen very slightly compared to 2020 (when it was 42.2%), confirming the persistent state of inefficiency of many distribution networks.
Although in recent years many water service managers have launched initiatives to ensure greater capacity for measuring consumption and the containment of network losses, the quantity of water dispersed in distribution continues to represent a considerable volume, quantifiable as 157 liters per day per inhabitant. Estimating per capita consumption equal to the national average, the volume of water dispersed in 2022 would satisfy the water needs of 43.4 million people for an entire year (which corresponds to approximately 75% of the Italian population).
Total network losses are to be attributed to causes which:
- physiological factorspresent in all water infrastructures as there is no zero loss system;
- breakages in the pipes and age of the systems, prevalent especially in some areas of the territory;
- connect abuses and administrative factors, due to meter measurement errors and unauthorized uses.
The analysis of the characteristics of public services for the distribution of drinking water, sewerage and urban wastewater purification is carried out on the data of the “Census of water for civil use”, a survey conducted by Istat and included in the National Statistical Program (IST-02192) . The Water Census for civil use provides information on the entire chain of public use of water resources, from the withdrawal of water for drinking use to the purification of urban waste water and on the main characteristics of the water services present in Italy.
The data received are subjected to control, correction and validation procedures. So let’s see in detail what emerged.
The regions where losses are greatest
Although the losses have a highly variable trend, the territorial and infrastructural differences reproduce the consolidated North-South gradient, with the more critical situations in the Central and Southern areasfalling in the hydrographic districts of the Apennine and insular belt.
Specifically, the river basin districts with the largest total losses in distribution are the Sardinia (52.8%), the Sicily (51.6%) e the southern Apennines (50.4%), followed byCentral Apennines (45.5%).
The indicator reaches, however, the minimum value in the Po River district (32.5%) and is slightly lower than the national figure in the districts of the Eastern Alps (40.9%) and Northern Apennines (40.6%).
In nine regions the total water losses in distribution are higher than the national figurewith the highest values in:
- Basilicata (65.5%);
- Abruzzo (62.5%);
- Molise (53.9%);
- Sardinia (52.8%);
- Sicily (51.6%).
On the other hand, all the Northern regions have a lower level of losses, with Veneto (42.2%) and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (42.3%) in line with the national figure. The smallest losses were recorded in the autonomous province of Bolzano/Bozen (28.8%), Emilia-Romagna (29.7%) and Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (29.8%).
In 13 out of 21 regions and autonomous provinces and in three out of seven river basin districts, water losses are increasing totals in distribution. In this regard, it must be considered that the variations detected may depend not only on the state of the networks, but also on variations in the methods of calculating the volumes consumed but not measured at the meter, on the growing diffusion of measuring instruments, which are more effective in highlight critical situations, from contingent situations and management changes that can modify the volume accounting system.
The situation in cities and provincial capitals
The Istat report also gives us a clear picture of the situation in the cities and provincial capitals. From what has emerged, in the drinking water distribution networks of the 109 provincial capitals and metropolitan cities, compared to the 2.3 billion cubic meters of water introduced into the network (364 liters per inhabitant per day), 0.8 billion cubic meters missing35.2% of the volume entered.
Continuing the trend already marked starting from 2018, in 2023 the total losses in distribution in the capitals are reduced by one percentage point compared to 2020 (when they were at 36.2%) and are approximately 10 percentage points lower than the other municipalities, confirming the fact that investments by water service managers are more concentrated in these cities (a at a national level, however, losses continue to increase, even if slightly). The dispersions, proportional to the length of the infrastructure and the number of connections, have determined a daily loss per kilometer of distribution network (excluding connection pipes) equal to approximately 40 cubic meters (41 in 2020).
In more than one in three capitals there are total losses in distribution exceeding 45%..
The conditions of maximum criticalitywith values equal to at least 65%, are at:
- Power (71.0%);
- Chieti (70.4%);
- L’Aquila (68.9%);
- Latina (67.7%);
- Cosenza (66.5%);
- Campobasso (66.4%);
- Mass (65.3%);
- Syracuse (65.2%);
- Vibo Valentia (65.0%).
A more favorable infrastructural situation, with losses of less than 25%, occurs in approximately one in four capital cities. Losses of less than 15% were found in seven cities: Como (9.2%), Pavia (9.4%), Monza (11.0%), Lecce (12.0%), Pordenone (12.1%) , Milan (13.4%) and Macerata (13.9%).
In the capitals where the Service performance worsens compared to 2020, the manager attributes the result in many cases to a more correct recording of volumes (Cosenza, Imperia, L’Aquila and Sondrio, among others). On the other hand, where recorded, the reduction in losses is mainly due to the reorganization of the distribution network into homogeneous micro-areas (districtisation), which made it possible to reduce operating pressures and detect hidden losses (among others, Rome and Como).
Critical situation in the South
It’s not just a problem of missing resources, but others critical elements also emerge in the provision of the service. From the data collected, for example, it emerges that in the South the greatest complaints due to irregularities in water supply, precisely where the drought problem has now become a matter of public interest.
Specifically, in 2023 the share of families who complain about irregularities in the service of water supply in their homes is equal to 8.9%, but it must be said that it is slightly decreasing compared to 2022 (9.7%). The disservice affects the regions in very different percentages and affects approximately 2 million 300 thousand families; among these, over two thirds are resident in Noon (1.6 million families). Calabria (38.7% of families) e Sicily (29.5%) are the regions most exposed to water supply problems in homes.
The situation in the North-West is diametrically opposite (3.1%) and in the North-East (2.6%), while in the Center less than one family in 10 reports irregularities in the provision of the service. The irregularity in the supply of water is felt throughout the year by 37.6% of families, during the summer period by 31.3%, while it is considered a sporadic event by 30.1%.
Over half of the families (55.7%) consider the costs incurred to be adequate for water supply, while over one in three (37.2%) consider them high. Dissatisfaction with the amount of spending is more widespread in the Islands (53.3%), in the South (41.2%) and in the Center (41.1%). More contained in the North-West (31.8%) and the North-East (27.8%).
Risks and consequences for the environment and the economy
It is worrying to note that despite efforts to improve the efficiency of the water network, losses still remain high. This not only represents a waste of a vital resource, but also has significant economic and environmental implications. In 2021, for example, 21.8% of environmental protection spending was allocated to water management services waste. This suggests that a considerable part of resources is used to address the consequences of water losses rather than focusing on prevention.
Furthermore, considering that in 2020 19.0% of the used agricultural surface was irrigated, it becomes clear that water is also a vital element for agriculture, a key sector for the growth and development of the country. Leaks in the water supply not only threaten the water security of communities, but also affect crucial sectors such as this, putting the sustainability of entire food, economic and employment systems is at risk.
To effectively address this problem, a holistic approach involving both is needed investments in the maintenance and modernization of infrastructure existing systems and the adoption of sustainable water management practices. Technology can play a crucial role in monitoring water networks and detecting leaks early. Furthermore, it is important to educate and raise awareness among the population on the importance of water conservation and the adoption of responsible behavior.
In conclusion, it can be stated that losses in the Italian water network represent a complex and urgent challenge which requires the joint commitment of governments, local authorities, water sector operators and citizens. Only through collective commitment and concrete actions can we hope to preserve this vital resource for future generations and ensure sustainable management of water resources.
