ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

The Italian Integrated Water Service Companies as a Promoter of Soil Unsealing Processes

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 17 | PUBLIC SPACE

Speaker

Gregorio Pezzoli (University of Bergamo)

Description

As the adverse effects of climate change intensify in a globalised context of substantial urban expansion, urban mitigation and adaptation measures are becoming increasingly imperative (Short & Farmer, 2021). In the context of surface water management, the 'sponge city' principle is gaining popularity, often in application of the Low Impact Development (LID) principle (Liu et al., 2017). The objective of LID is to achieve 'natural' hydrology through design and control measures (Fletcher et al., 2015). Natural hydrology is defined as the balance between runoff, infiltration and evapotranspiration volumes pre-urban development, achieved through a functionally equivalent hydrological landscape.
Within the Italian system, the management of water resources is the mandate of the Integrated Water Service (IWS). The IWS is responsible for the collection, supply and distribution of water for civil uses, sewerage and wastewater purification. The entities responsible for the oversight of these services can be either public or private companies, operating within designated 'Optimal Territorial Areas'. These areas are characterised by an ideal management dimension, considering the physical characteristics of the water cycle and ensuring economies of scale (D. lgs. 152/2006). It is therefore evident that these societies are supra-municipal in nature. A strategic shift in focus, away from their traditional core business, has recently been initiated by a number of these companies. This strategic shift is characterised by the promotion and implementation of actions with the objective of enhancing urban drainage systems, mainly on public space. These policies, aimed at achieving a harmonious city-water relationship, are implemented through a combination of conventional ‘hard’ engineering interventions, e.g. detention basins, and more contemporary and sustainable approaches, e.g. LID, NBS, and SUDS.
This contribution aims to explore the ways in which the actions and projects of Integrated Water Service Companies (IWSC) are able to promote public space initiatives that enhance resilience to climate change and environmental sustainability. The selection of the case studies will be based on two criteria: the optimal territorial areas of IWSCs - those that are highly urbanised, and the effective role of IWSCs as promoters of soil unsealing processes. The analysis will be conducted on a selection of case studies, chosen to ensure geographical diversity - in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the most significant actions based on stakeholder involvement, urban planning tools used, spaces involved and actions applied.
The analysis will proceed according to fourfold criteria. Firstly, a classification of the type of interventions implemented and their relation to other benefits in addition to urban drainage (e.g. temperature regulation, enhancement of urban biodiversity, etc.). Secondly, the identification of regional and local policies that enabled and supported the success of the projects. Thirdly, the mapping of relevant stakeholders (including the public, private and civil society sectors) alongside the level of interest and involvement in the planning, execution and maintenance of soil unsealing initiatives. Finally, the evaluation of the projects' effectiveness, equity and scalability.
The analysis is expected to generate three primary outcomes: namely, the identification of pivotal success factors, prevalent barriers, and pioneering solutions. The objective of this study is to synthesize the conditions for successful IWSC-led soil unsealing projects, thereby providing actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and water management professionals. This will contribute to sustainable and equitable urban development in response to climate change within the Italian urban context.

References

Decreto Legislativo (D. lgs.) n. 152 del 3 aprile 2006 "Norme in materia ambientale" (Testo Unico Ambientale)

Fletcher, T.D., Shuster, W., Hunt, W.F., Ashley, R., Butler, D., Arthur, S., Trowsdale, S., Barraud, S., Semadeni-Davies, A., Bertrand-Krajewski, J.-L., Mikkelsen, P.S., Rivard, G., Uhl, M., Dagenais, D., Viklander, M., 2015. SUDS, LID, BMPs, WSUD and more – The evolution and application of terminology surrounding urban drainage. Urban Water Journal 12, 525–542. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2014.916314

Liu, H., Jia, Y., Niu, C., 2017. “Sponge city” concept helps solve China’s urban water problems. Environ Earth Sci 76, 473, s12665-017-6652–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6652-3

Short, J.R., Farmer, A., 2021. Cities and Climate Change. Earth 2, 1038–1045. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth2040061