Wastewater treatment, 258 administrations are involved in EU infringement procedures. The alarm from geologists: "In Italy, 40% of rivers and lakes are polluted, Europe will sanction us" In Italy, the pollution of 40% of rivers and lakes continues to produce ongoing and serious environmental emergencies and even exposes us financially to the economic sanctions that Europe will soon impose for failing to comply with more than one European directive and various legislative measures regarding wastewater treatment. An estimated cost of about 700 million per year, which the State and Regions will have to bear, in addition to cuts in some European funds, until the provisions assigned to our nation are fully implemented. In Italy, 268 administrations are involved in infringement procedures for lack or absence of treatment systems: 109 have already been condemned based on a procedure from 2004 and 159 are currently undergoing procedures since 2009. The Energy Authority has estimated that between the implementation of the interventions already planned in the area plans and the construction of new treatment plants necessary to overcome the condemnations and infringement procedures, investments of about 20 billion will be needed over the next five years. Meanwhile, the pressure exerted on the environment in general and on water in particular by industrial activities remains very heavy, and the negative effects on human health and ecosystems caused by the presence of hazardous substances, especially in groundwater, but also in soil, subsoil, and sediments, continue to be concerning. Promoting best practices in the protection and management of groundwater resources according to the principles of European directives and safeguarding water resources in a country like ours, which unfortunately often stands out for its reckless use, is at least a civil battle to which geologists have long been committed. We know that in Italy, water resources are generally sufficient to meet needs and that the problem lies in their management and proper use.
Source: Gian Vito Graziano, president of the National Council of Geologists
