Italy's Hidden Groundwater Reservoir Supplies 84% of Drinking Water

ISPRA  has unveiled a new Hydrogeological Map of Italy, highlighting the country's vast underground groundwater resources. According to the study, more than 84% of Italy's drinking water comes from aquifers, springs and wells beneath the surface.

The map shows that around 66% of the Italian territory contains natural aquifers with medium to high water-storage capacity, particularly across the Po Valley and the central and southern Apennines. The survey also identified 957 major springs with flow rates exceeding 10 litres per second, supplying approximately 2.7 billion cubic metres of drinking water each year.

Published forty years after the previous nationwide assessment, the new map provides an updated picture of one of Italy's most valuable natural resources. ISPRA stresses that understanding and protecting these underground water reserves is essential for ensuring the country's long-term water security and sustainable management of freshwater resources