More than half of the bars and restaurants monitored by the NAS showed irregularities in the management, bottling or administration of treated water. This is what emerges from the national campaign conducted by the Nas Carabinieri, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, between 1 and 31 July 2026.
The checks concerned compliance with the rules established for treated water served in public places, with particular attention to the methods of administration, the information provided to customers and the hygiene and authorization conditions of the activities.
The numbers of the Nas controls
Across Italy, 272 inspections were carried out. In 147 cases non-compliant situations were found, equal to 54% of the checks carried out. In practice, more than one location in two of those checked had at least one irregularity. The NAS also took 53 water samples to undergo laboratory analysis and reported 126 people to the competent administrative and health authorities. A total of 256 violations were confirmed.
Fines of around 175 thousand euros
Among the irregularities contested there is also a criminal offense for trading in food with false signs, i.e. with indications potentially capable of misleading the consumer. Added to this are 255 administrative sanctions relating, among other things, to the information provided for the sale and administration of non-prepackaged products, to hygienic and structural deficiencies, to problems in the procedures adopted and to the lack of the required requirements or authorizations. The total amount of the sanctions is approximately 175 thousand euros.
2 thousand liters of water seized
During the checks, 2 thousand liters of unfiltered drinking water and seven pieces of equipment found to be non-compliant were also seized. For ten companies, however, the suspension of activity was ordered due to hygienic-structural or authorization deficiencies. The overall commercial value of the activities affected by the provision was estimated at approximately 4.7 million euros.
What it means for those who order water at a bar or restaurant
The results of the campaign above all highlight the importance of transparency towards the customer. In fact, when a place serves treated water, precise conditions must be respected and correct information must be provided on the nature of the product administered. The customer must therefore be able to clearly understand what type of water is being served, without ambiguous indications or presentations that could make it appear different from what it really is.
The NAS campaign is part of the activities to protect public health and monitor compliance with the rules laid down for bars, restaurants and other businesses that supply food and drinks.
