Un emergency intervention to avoid a crisis, that of water, which otherwise risks impacting “an entire generation”. This is the philosophy behind the plan that the Webuild group has put in black and white to respond to the country’s thirst: 16 desalinators to guarantee the production of 1.6 million cubic meters per day. For a total investment, it is estimated, from 2.5-3 billion euros. This is only to immediately meet the needs of the summer period but to cover the overall needs at least 80 systems should be built. To talk about it with The sun 24 hours is Pietro Salini, managing director of the construction group which among its key assets can count Fisia Italimpianti, world leader in the sector.
Is the plan you propose compatible with the country’s water needs?
It is clear that we are in an emergency situation. And it must be faced bearing in mind two aspects: on the one hand we have a huge gap compared to the rest of the world in the management, recovery, production and dispersion of water and this is a fact that comes from afar. On the other hand, we must also consider how we use it: we consume twice as much of drinking water as in Spain. It is clear that this is not a problem that we can think of solving in the short term. The battle we are waging against climate change and global warming will be long and without alternative solutions we risk that an entire generation will have to suffer from water shortages. And then we take note of the fact that we are surrounded by the sea and that we have a strong expertise in desalination at home.
But what are you concretely proposing?
We have estimated that overall the country has a shortage of drinking water of about 2.9 billion cubic meters per year. This is the problem that we must face in perspective. But with respect to the actual needs of an emergency nature, we can manage the crisis situation with the production of 1.6 million cubic meters per day. This means the construction for the seasonal crisis of 16-18 medium-power desalinators, which would employ up to 10 thousand people, with positive effects on income and work, and that we could start building immediately in order to make them operational within the next two years. To date there are nine capitals that have rationed water. We cannot rely on good luck, hoping for rain. The issue must be addressed and only this small project could give a concrete answer to the 30% of the population suffering from the lack of drinking water. This is the difference between civilization and barbarism. For this we are at the disposal of the government. We know that in these hours it is appointing a commissioner who will have special powers to overcome issues of a bureaucratic and authorization nature. And we are ready to collaborate with the local authorities who, through the commissioner, will have to coordinate the transport and storage of water.
How much would it cost to implement such a plan and what would the final costs be for consumers?
I believe that even small plants could be sufficient on the islands, while a more structural intervention should be envisaged for Sicily. The cost of desalinated water is around 2-3 euros per cubic meter, of course we pay about 1.5 euros today but the price of a cubic meter of water transported by ship is around 13-14 euros. Moreover, if you look at the rest of Europe, in Germany it reaches 7 euros per cubic meter, in Spain 4 euros and in France 3 euros. Among other things, it is no longer sustainable to pay so little for water and lose half of it: our water networks in some areas have a dispersion rate of more than 50%.
Speaking of Europe, a recent study by the consulting firm Althesys highlighted the benefits of desalination by pointing to Spain as a positive example.
In Europe it is above all the Mediterranean countries that are most interested in desalination, which has actually undergone considerable development, especially in Spain, where 765 plants were installed in 2021, including large-scale works serving important urban areas such as Barcelona. In Italy we can count on just 400 million cubic meters of desalinated water against the 6 billion of the Iberian Peninsula, it is a huge gap, about seven times. Here it is worth just 4% while there it accounts for 56% and in Australia for 26%. It is a lack of vision not to use the sea water that surrounds us.