Italy: EIB invests 50 million euros to improve resilience and efficiency of water service in Como

Italy: EIB invests 50 million euros to improve resilience and efficiency of water service in Como

The EIB financing aims to increase the resilience of the water service against drought, reduce water losses and improve energy efficiency.
Plans are underway for the rehabilitation, expansion, and optimization of water treatment plants, water grids, distribution networks, sewer lines, and ICT infrastructure.
Between 2016 and 2022, Italy, with 2.9 billion euros, was the largest beneficiary of EIB resources dedicated to the water sector.

Increasing the efficiency, security of supply, and resilience of the water and wastewater service in the Province of Como. These are the main objectives of the 50 million euro financing granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to Como Acqua S.r.l, a public company that provides the integrated water service to approximately 500,000 people.

In detail, the investment program for the 2023-2026 period includes a series of interventions distributed across the 147 municipalities in the Como Acqua service area aimed at modernizing water and wastewater infrastructure and increasing operational efficiency, helping to reduce water losses and improve energy efficiency. In addition, interventions are planned for the rehabilitation, expansion, and optimization of water treatment plants, water grids, and sewer lines, as well as wastewater treatment plants and digital infrastructure, including the integrated telemetry system.

The financing granted by the European Union's climate bank also aims to increase the resilience of the water service against future extreme weather events, such as drought, through investments in grid efficiency, the interconnection of water systems, and water resource management.

“This funding represents an important step forward in improving the quality and sustainability of the water service in Lombardy., stated Andrea Clerici, EIB Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Public Sector Financing in Italy.. “Thanks to the support of the European Union's climate bank, Como Acqua S.r.l. will be able to successfully pursue its investment plan, guaranteeing a reliable, efficient, and resilient integrated water service in the Province of Como.”

“The support from the EIB is a concrete confirmation of the company's level of growth, considering the type of entities that are granted access to this type of banking relationship.”, comments Ing. Enrico Pezzoli, President and CEO of Como Acqua. “I extend my sincere thanks to all members, because only the sharing of goals and perspectives allows for significant steps forward. Furthermore, my gratitude extends to all those who daily work with commitment and responsibility so that Como Acqua is increasingly efficient in its fundamental mission of protecting the right of access to drinking water.”

Strong support from the EIB for the water sector in Italy.

As the climate bank of the European Union, the EIB is one of the largest lenders to the water sector worldwide, with more than 1,600 projects and approximately €80 billion in financing provided since 1958. Between 2016 and 2022, Italy was the largest beneficiary of EIB resources dedicated to the water sector. During this timeframe, the EIB financed 40 operations totaling 2.9 billion euros in the country, helping to mobilize investments of approximately 8.9 billion.