Italians' spending on water, whether mineral or tap, has risen dramatically in recent years, and despite a decrease in family usage, waste remains high at home and along the distribution network. The average yearly spend on water services in Italy in 2024 was €384 for a three-person home consuming 150 cubic meters, a 40% rise over the previous decade. Over the same period, investments by water utilities rose from €3.1 billion, corresponding to €51 per capita annually, to €8 billion in 2024, amounting to €80 per capita, representing a 57% increase and closely aligning with the trend in water billing rates. Drinking water usage has dropped from an average of 241 liters per capita per day in 2012 to around 215 liters in 2024, representing a 10.8% decline. At the same time, mineral water consumption in Italy has risen over the same period: from 11,370 million liters in 2012, equivalent to around 190 liters per capita per year, to 15,150 million liters, or 257 liters per capita, in 2024, a 35.2% increase. Waste remains a serious issue: while network leakage accounts for 42% of distributed water, a single apartment can waste up to 20,000 liters per year through careless use of this precious resource.