28-04-2026

“IT is the enabling factor in the transformation of the water sector. The Almaviva Group helps administrations view digital technology not as a set of technological tools, but as a strategic ally for the integrated, efficient, and inclusive management of water systems,” said Fulvio Conti, Head of the Almaviva Group’s Water, Agriculture, Environment, and Space Business Unit.

The interview focused on the challenges of Italy’s water resilience according to Almaviva: from the need for a strategic vision for water to the digitization of the irrigation sector, as well as wastewater reuse, the relationship between policy and data, and technologies to address droughts and floods.

“If water is a strategic infrastructure, then it cannot be treated as just another technical issue. Where does Italy fall short: in its vision, governance, or courage to make decisions?

I prefer starting with solutions. What’s needed is a structural shift in the way we manage water as a strategic infrastructure. We must move beyond isolated or limited local interventions and adopt an integrated approach to water ecosystems that are able to systematically rethink infrastructure, planning, investments, and governance models. In a rapidly and irreversibly evolving climate context, the cost of lacking a strategic vision is clear: the impacts of climate change and water scarcity could potentially lead to a reduction in GDP of up to 10% by 2030. Italy is now the second-most affected country in Europe in terms of economic losses linked to extreme weather events, with an average annual cost of €283 per person.”