Reducing Water Loss in Italy
Isle helped Italian utilities reduce non-revenue water loss as part of the EU Recovery Plan
On average, Italy loses 40% of its water supply every year to leakage and inefficiencies, known as non-revenue water (NRW). This represents the highest losses anywhere in the European Union in terms of m3/km/year (Eureau). The EU Recovery Plan is helping to right this imbalance by funding digitisation and smart water management initiatives. Funding is focused on cutting non-revenue water through leak control, pressure management and asset management. A smarter, more joined up water supply system not only helps cut water losses; it also helps strengthen resilience against climate change. Together, these changes can secure a more reliable water supply for Italy.
The EU Recovery Plan is an opportunity for Italy’s water industry to become fully digital while also reducing NRW. Funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) is distributed by Italy’s Ministry of Labour and Social Policies. Funds primarily cover innovative NRW reduction and smart metering projects.
Our team helped 18 utilities secure funding for projects including the digitising/monitoring of distribution networks, smart metering, and asset management. Our team supported utilities by writing and sizing each project, as well as with the methodology, economic framework, and operational and financial schedule. All projects Isle worked on received the highest score and full funding totalling over €317 under PNRR. Our team is now supporting the utilities in the implementation phase of each project.
Ventajas del enfoque/la innovación
- NRW expertise: Our team’s leading NRW expertise meant all of the projects we worked on were awarded funding. Thus ensured utilities gained the funding they needed to address NRW challenges.
- Comprehensive support from start to finish: Isle’s involvement during the implementation phase ensured a straightforward transition from planning to implementation. This allows us to anticipate and address any challenges along the way.
- Sharing solutions: Isle’s virtual round table PNRR Working Group helps managers from different utilities to stay connected and share problems and solutions encountered during PNRR implementation.
Servicios especializados implicados:
- Advanced NRW training: Our team specialise in providing advanced NRW training based on International Water Association (IWA) and EU best practices. Our training equipped utility staff with the skills needed to reduce non revenue water
- Technical specification development: We supported utilities by crafting specifications for engineering services, decision support systems (DSS) and instruments.
- Data monitoring and validation: Our team monitored project performance and validated results against each of the project objectives.
Resultados:
- All projects received full funding: All 15 projects received the highest evaluation scores and secured full funding totalling more than €317 million under PNRR. The funding serves as a booster to give projects a leg up to improve their efficiency. Isle is now supporting the utilities in the implementation phase which will see the NRW and smart metering projects brought to life.
Contactos clave:
Para más información, póngase en contacto con Annalisa Gaccione, Managing Director at Isle Utilities Italy.