(Finance) – “During this forum an important topic was addressed which is that of planning interventions, interventions which go along multiple axes. The first is certainly that of investments where Italy is far behind. Investments which must be spread across the territory but coordinated in a single direction. The Government is moving on this and I believe that the steps that have been taken, especially in recent months, are very encouraging. In this, as Acea, we are the leading national water operator and we want to give our contribution in an integrated planning logic, a planning that goes beyond local areas and that has at least a regional and possibly national dimension”. This is what theCEO and general manager of Acea Fabrizio Palermo on the margin of Enpaia Forum.
Within this integrated planning, what role does artificial intelligence and new meters play?
“Artificial intelligence, which is increasingly important on a global level, is telling us one thing: we need more and more water. Just look at how much water servers consume worldwide and how important it will be to manage this issue. In turn, intelligence artificial can be very useful for optimizing the management of the integrated water cycle. We are starting to use it, I think we are ahead in this and the results are surprising”.
Water and the agricultural sector. What are the challenges on this front?
“The agricultural sector and water have always been closely linked. In this I believe that the challenge is increasingly to reuse water, or rather, to optimize what falls because today in Italy it rains differently and in different places and it is therefore necessary to adapt the infrastructures to this which is a sort of climate change and water distribution. It is fundamental to increase reuse which today in Italy is very low: using the water that comes out of the purifiers, which is perfectly drinkable, can help optimize the national water balance”.
Do you think it is essential to create a national water network?
“Today the networks are at municipal or, sometimes, provincial level. This means that the possibilities for use and optimization of availability are severely limited by this. The more a connected network develops, the more the resource can be better managed where there is is. This year too there have been situations where in some regions the dams had to be opened when there was no water elsewhere. Instead of transporting it with tankers, it would be nice to have an integrated network.”