More investments, digitalization, aggregations, and prevention-oriented management. These are the main elements of the "Pact for Water Resilience" promoted by utilitalia to strengthen the capacity of the Italian water service to address the effects of climate change. The document identifies six lines of action and a package of proposals aimed at institutions and ARERA, from reducing management fragmentation to simplifying authorizations.
The Pact was presented in Rome, during the opening event of the Water Festival organized by Utilitalia. The one who also subscribes to it is Hera Group, through the companies Hera, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi.
From emergency management to prevention
The starting point is the need to change approach, progressively moving the centre of gravity from emergency management to prevention-based strategyThe goal is to make infrastructure and services more efficient and prepared for droughts, extreme events, and increasing pressure on water resources.
Hera's participation fits into this framework, linking the Pact to its own investment strategies for the water cycle. "By signing the Water Resilience Pact, we confirm and renew our commitment to increasingly efficient and innovative management of the resource," emphasized Alessandro Baroncini, Central Networks Director of the Hera Group. In a context marked by the effects of climate change, he adds, it is necessary to "strengthen investments, accelerate digitalization, and develop prevention tools" to make local areas more resilient.
The Hera Group, the second-largest operator in the sector, serves over 3,6 million residents in 228 municipalities. For the period 2025-2029, Baroncini emphasizes, Hera has planned over €1,8 billion in investments in the integrated water cycle, targeting the development of infrastructure and solutions to strengthen the quality, continuity, and efficiency of the service, with a particular focus on security of supply, resource protection, and adaptation to climate change.
For the president of Utilitalia Luca Dal FabroWater resilience affects not only citizens' quality of life, but also "the stability of our economic system and the country's energy security." Hence the need, according to Utilitalia, to support business investments with policies and tools capable of supporting a consistent path across the country, especially in the most vulnerable areas.
The six priorities for the water service
The first front indicated by the Pact concerns the industrial management of the water service and the full application of rregulation throughout the national territoryUtilitalia calls for stable, long-term management models, with concessions tailored to investment needs and uniform evaluation criteria. Where regulations are not yet fully implemented, the document proposes direct intervention by ARERA.
The second direction aims to build a “water-smart” system, through skills, innovation, and digitalization. The goal is to increase efficiency and reduce waste, including through rewarding regulatory mechanisms, the dissemination of best practices, and greater data standardization and interoperability.
Then there is the issue of management fragmentationThe Pact proposes to encourage mergers, business networks, and forms of cooperation, considered tools to strengthen the economic stability of operators and their investment capacity. The proposals also include measures to facilitate access to credit and support the sharing of innovation strategies and tools.
The fourth line of action concerns the integration between infrastructure, water resources and ecosystemsThe proposed approach includes water reuse, groundwater protection, storage systems, and nature-based solutions. Utilitalia also highlights the need to discuss extended producer responsibility, including funding for efforts to combat emerging contaminants.
Resilience also comes from water cultureThe Pact envisages coordinated awareness campaigns and a more structured collaboration with schools, with the aim of strengthening awareness of the value of this resource.
Finally, the document aims to recognize managers a role of "territorial sentinels", that is, entities capable of helping identify and address the impacts of climate change on local areas. To strengthen this role, Utilitalia proposes simplifying authorization procedures and providing appropriate tariff recognition for innovative investments aimed at prevention and resilience.
