Milan, 17 July 2026 – Italy’s water system is facing growing pressure from climate change, ageing infrastructure and increasing demand. A new CESI perspective paper, Rethinking Water Infrastructure for a Climate-Stressed Future, examines these challenges and the actions needed to build a more resilient system.
The paper looks at the combined impact of prolonged droughts, increasingly intense rainfall, declining freshwater availability, reservoir sedimentation and the ageing of dams and water infrastructure.
It also explores the growing connection between water, energy and digital infrastructure, including the additional pressure created by large-scale data centres and the need for more integrated resource planning.
Technology will play a central role. Advanced monitoring, predictive analytics and digital twins can help operators identify risks earlier, improve maintenance and manage infrastructure more effectively.
The paper highlights three priorities for the future: modernising existing assets, accelerating technological innovation and strengthening governance.
Read the full paper here. The document is available in English and Italian.
