ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – Italy has dedicated €1.55 billion to fund 59 water network projects across 17 regions through its national recovery plan. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport finalized this funding allocation within four months. The projects include upgrades to aqueducts, distribution systems, and other water-related infrastructure essential for water supply and safety. Most of the funding will go to southern regions. The package combines national recovery funds with additional contributions from project beneficiaries.
Approximately €830 million, or 53% of the total, will be allocated to southern Italy. This share exceeds the program’s minimum requirement of 40% for the country’s southern regions. Beneficiaries will contribute roughly €683 million of their own funds to the approved projects. As a result, total investment is projected to surpass €2.2 billion. The funds aim to enhance water efficiency, bolster infrastructure resilience, and minimize losses within supply networks.
Italy channels the funds through SFNIISSI, its financing scheme for strategic water infrastructure and water security. This initiative is part of the country’s PNRR recovery framework and leverages NextGenerationEU resources. Originally, €1 billion was available, but an additional €576 million increased the pool of funding in August. Invitalia manages the application process, grant procedures, and project oversight. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport oversees the broader water investment strategy linked to these funds.
Majority of funding directed to southern Italy
Eligible recipients include public agencies and companies managing water resources and infrastructure. Grants can cover up to 90% of eligible costs for projects focused on efficiency and structural safety. Digital projects aimed at reducing water loss can receive up to 85% of funding. The application window opened on May 6 and closed on June 8 after an extension. Afterward, officials evaluated submissions and distributed resources among the approved projects.
The current funds support projects already identified within national planning and other priority programs. These include upgrades to aqueducts, distribution networks, and facilities that ensure reliable water supplies. Invitalia handles grant administration and monitors progress. Beneficiary contributions boost the total investment well above the public funds alone. The €2.2 billion figure includes both public resources and private contributions from project beneficiaries.
Funding continues Italy’s ongoing water infrastructure development
This allocation follows previous PNRR investments in Italy’s water infrastructure. By July, the country had completed 48 water systems under another recovery scheme, exceeding the target of 45. Among these, 37 are classified as complex infrastructure projects. Authorities also reported 79 individual interventions carried out by 52 managing bodies. Around €1 billion in recovery funds supported 124 projects involving reservoirs and water systems for drinking, irrigation, and mixed uses.
Of the 48 finished systems, 25 primarily support irrigation, 20 provide drinking water, and 3 serve dual purposes. Italy has also allocated over €6 billion through its broader infrastructure investment framework to water-related projects. The new €1.55 billion funding adds 59 projects to this larger program. With the funds now allocated, these projects will move into implementation according to the established PNRR schedule and oversight processes.