Italy continues to leak from all sides:water dispersion at 42%, in Basilicata it reaches up to 71%

Istat data published on the occasion of World Water Day.Only 7 Italian cities record losses under 15%

The water that is dispersed in Italy every year in distribution networks could satisfy the water needs of 43.4 million people for an entire year.This was revealed by Istat, which today published some statistics on the occasion of World Water Day.The data on water dispersion, relating to 2022, confirm a worrying picture for Italy, where 42.4% of drinking water is wasted before reaching the final consumer.This is a slightly growing figure compared to 2020, when the percentage stood at 42.2%, but above all light years away from other European countries.In France, water loss is 20%, in Belgium and Sweden 21%, in Spain and the United Kingdom 23%, in Germany 6% and in the Netherlands 5%.Italy's poor performance can be explained above all by the state of its water infrastructure.In fact, over 60% of the pipes were positioned more than 30 years ago, while 25% are even more than 50 years old.

Water dispersion, region by region

The most virtuous region in terms of water dispersion is Emilia-Romagna, where 29.7% of water is lost along the way.Earning the black jersey is Basilicata (65.5%), which records peaks of 71% in the province of Potenza.In more than one capital out of three, we read in the Istat report, the total losses during the distribution phase exceed 45%.While the provinces in conditions of "maximum criticality", i.e. with values ​​equal to at least 65%, are:Potenza (71%), Chieti (70.4%), L'Aquila (68.9%), Latina (67.7%), Cosenza (66.5%), Campobasso (66.4%), Massa ( 65.3%), Siracusa (65.2%) and Vibo Valentia (65.0%).The most virtuous cities in terms of water dispersion are found above all in the Northern regions, albeit with some exceptions.The only seven cities where losses of less than 15% are recorded are:Como (9.2%), Pavia (9.4%), Monza (11.0%), Lecce (12.0%), Pordenone (12.1%), Milan (13.4%) and Macerata ( 13.9%)".In Rome water losses are at 27.9%.

Consumption per capita

Overall, in 2022 the volume of water withdrawn in Italy for drinking use amounted to 9.14 billion cubic metres, destined for both homes and hotels, commercial activities and industrial plants.The daily withdrawal was 25 million cubic meters, equal to 424 liters per inhabitant.Of all the EU countries, Italy is one of those which records the highest data in terms of withdrawals of water for drinking use.With 155 cubic meters per year per inhabitant, our country is in fact in third to last place among EU countries together with Greece (159) and Ireland.In most member states (20 out of 27), the figure fluctuates between 45 and 90 cubic metres, well below the Italian average.

The disservices (especially in the South)

Although 2022 was the least rainy year since 1961, the withdrawal of drinking water did not undergo significant changes, at least at a national level.However, in some areas of Italy there have been important critical issues, especially in the South.Almost one in ten families (9.7%) complained about irregularities in the water supply service in their homes.The outage seems to concern Calabria and Sicily more than anything else, which are confirmed as the two most affected regions.Here, water supply problems in 2022 affected 38.7 and 29.5% of families respectively.

Cover photo:UNSPLASH/Luis Tosta