Scenari del Servizio Idrico Integrato in Lombardia : la visione industriale tra resilienza, innovazione e riforma della governance

finanziario, la crescita degli investimenti richiede un mix di fondi pubblici, strumenti di garanzia e accettabilità sociale degli adeguamenti tariffari. In chiusura, si evidenzia l'esigenza di rafforzare governance e coordinamento regionale, semplificando procedure e riducendo tempi autorizzativi per assicurare efficacia attuativa. [Testo dell'editore]

The Integrated Water Service in Lombardy is undergoing a profound transformation, in which the modernisation of existing infrastructure intersects with growing challenges linked to climate change, the evolution of European objectives, and increasingly stringent regulatory and environmental requirements. Drawing on interviews with all Integrated Water Service operators active in Lombardy, this contribution conveys through their direct perspectives the sector's priorities, critical issues, and development trajectories. ARERA's technical quality indicators provide the reference framework for investment choices, which are currently focused primarily on reducing water losses and upgrading sewerage systems, while additional needs are emerging in relation to safeguarding water quality, upgrading wastewater treatment (including in response to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and energy-neutrality targets), and the integrated management of stormwater. In parallel, the consolidation of industrial and

operational synergies and the adoption of supra-local approaches are identified as strategic levers. From a financial standpoint, the growth in investment requirements calls for a balanced mix of public funding, guarantee instruments, and greater social acceptability of tariff adjustments. Finally, the paper highlights the need to strengthen governance and regional coordination, streamline procedures, and reduce permitting timelines in order to ensure effective implementation [Publisher's text]