In 2023, investments in the water sector in Italy reached 65 euros per inhabitant per year, with a projected growth to 72 euros in 2024 and 80 euros in 2025, thanks in part to projects linked to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). These data emerge from the Blue Book Notebook "Investments for water security and service quality," produced by the Utilitatis Foundation and promoted by Utilitalia, presented today in Rome at the CNEL (National Council for Economics and Labour) headquarters. From 2021 to 2023, industrial utilities, which cover about 66 percent of the Italian population, have invested about 7.1 billion euros, with an investment plan reaching 13.2 billion for the 2-year period 2024-2025. In contrast, investments in "in restrain" management, where local authorities directly manage the service, remain very low: in 2023 average investments stopped at 29 euros per inhabitant, far below the 65 euros of industrial operators. The study shows a general upward trend in investment, albeit with marked differences across geographic areas and revenue classes. In the North and the Center, average investments per capita range between 63 and 73 euros, while in the South they drop to 32 euros, albeit with managers showing excellent performance. However, a recovery is expected in the South, which will reach 58 euros per capita by 2025, thanks in part to PNRR-funded interventions.
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