The Gestore Unico del Servizio Idrico Integrato comasco is accelerating its efficiency efforts with the’Energy Team 
 
The horizon for Como Acqua, the Single Manager of the Integrated Water Service of the province of Como, is an increasingly sustainable management of the water resource, also by efficiently using its energy consumption. The commitment, which unfolds along two fundamental lines, is strongly concrete: it manifests itself through the adoption of Green Plan, The program, launched in 2021 and continuously updated, focuses on energy savings, reducing CO2 emissions and renewable technologies to reduce the environmental impact and improve efficiency and energy self-sufficiency. 

Reduce, produce and innovate: the goals of the Green Plan 
Como Acqua aims to reduce electricity consumption and increase self-generation from renewable sources, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions. Among the main objectives are also autonomy in the management of wastewater sludge and efficiency in the water cycle. 
Launched in 2021, the Green Plan introduced important innovations: the modernization of the facilities – with the installation of more efficient equipment, for example, at the Colonnato treatment plant; while in Carimate and Como, at the treatment plants, new photovoltaic panels are active that have strengthened energy self-sufficiency – ; the enhancement of remote control of the networks in order to constantly monitor their operation and reduce losses; the installation of smart water meter These systems, thanks to the real-time monitoring of consumption, guarantee a more efficient management of the water resource and an even more precise response to user needs. The plan also includes energy diagnostics of the systems and advanced management systems, such as the ISO 50001 certification, obtained already in 2014 for the purification plant in Viale Innocenzo XI in the city, to continuously improve energy performance. 

On the emissions front, Como Acqua is committed to reducing them: natural gas consumption has decreased – since the adoption of the document – by 24%, as have indirect CO2 emissions which – at the end of December 2023 – marked a –44% (according to the approach). market-based) thanks to certificates of origin, which avoided 40,296 tons of CO2eq. Green initiatives also include the RiVending for the recycling of plastic, it avoided the emission of 59.8 kg of CO2, favoring a more sustainable and circular management of waste. 

The future is green: the Energy Team of Como Acqua 
As proof of its commitment, the Como-based company has formed its own E department by merging resources already within its organization.nergy Team Qualified and with multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of investments, quality, environment and wastewater treatment. The areas of action and objectives are numerous: from the constant monitoring of energy consumption to periodic audits, the preparation and analysis of statistical reports with KPI trends. The team will have the task of identifying the areas where energy consumption is highest and those where there are the greatest margins for improvement and savings, proposing interventions and initiatives aimed at improving the performance of the Manager. Finally, the task of drafting the company’s energy balance sheet.  
The objective will also include training sessions, involving all the company’s employees and users, to emphasize the importance of each individual’s contribution and the awareness of the impact of activities and behaviors on everyday energy consumption.  
 
Districting and smart water meters: more than 13 million euros from the NRP 
Como Acqua has obtained an important funding of over 13 million euros under the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) M2C4-I4.2 for a project – divided into two main components – aimed at reducing water losses and optimizing the network in 40 municipalities in the territory. The funds, allocated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Mit) through a call funded by the European Union, will support interventions that combine innovation, environmental sustainability, and energy savings.  

Central goal: reduce water losses  
The project supported by the European Union runs on one hand towards the districtization of the network, on the other hand in the installation of the most modern Smart Water Meters. The action therefore develops on two parallel fronts, closely related to each other: reducing water losses in the involved territory by 16.5%, and consequently reducing energy consumption. The positive impact will be felt by over two hundred thousand served inhabitants and more than sixty thousand users.  
The first part of the project, which began in August 2024, focuses on the districtization and monitoring of the water distribution network. More than 1,500 kilometers of network will be divided into districts with homogeneous pressures. Pressure is in fact a fundamental parameter to monitor in order to contain losses – and, where they exist, identify them in a timely manner – through optimal management. The intervention involves the digitalization and modeling of the water distribution network, as well as the installation of 755 meters to monitor flow rates, pressures, and levels in real time. The completion of the works is scheduled for spring 2026, with expected benefits in terms of energy savings resulting from the optimization of the volumes of water injected into the network and the operating pressures, a reduction in emissions, and a more efficient management of the infrastructure.  

In parallel, Como Acqua has already begun installing Smart Water Meters at its customers“ homes. At the end of the project, there will be more than 55,000 smart meters active throughout the territory, capable of automatically recording the volumes of water ”delivered” – to better manage the amount of water fed into the network based on the actual volumes consumed by users. This system not only allows for more precise management of the resource, resulting in a reduction in energy consumption, but also brings several benefits to citizens, who will be able to rely on electronic, automated readings of actual consumption, which will also allow for the prompt detection of hidden losses and any anomalies.  

The two projects represent a concrete step towards reducing energy losses and waste, confirming Como Acqua's serious commitment to contributing to the safeguarding of an increasingly essential asset, to ensure that future generations have a more responsible and sustainable future.