The cost of living continues to rise and does not even spare water, an essential good. According to an investigation of Altroconsumo, The price of drinking water in 2024 increased by 4.1% on average compared to 2023, with peaks by almost 10% in some cities.
The average annual expenditure for an Italian family of three has reached 470 euros, with strong territorial disparities.
How much does water cost in Italy?
The analysis took into consideration the rates of the integrated water service applied in 87 Italian provincial capitals in 2024. The data refer to a type type family made up of three people, with an annual consumption of 180 cubic meters of water, equal to 165 liters of water per day each (according to Istat statistics).
The differences between the various cities are remarkable. If Milan records the lowest water billwith an average annual expenditure of 163 euros, Frosinone is the most expensive city, with a bill that reaches 852 euros. Also in Tuscany the rates are high: in Pisa the expense is 817 euros, in Florence of 751 euros and mass of 727 euros.
Between the cities that have undergone the most relevant increases we find Bologna (+9.8%), followed by L’Aquila, Bolzano and Venicewhere the increases exceeded 9%. Trento, on the other hand, is the only capital in which there was a slight drop in shopping (-0.5%).
The differences are also felt within the same regions. For example, between Frosinone and Rome the cost variation is 447 euros, while in Sicily between Caltanissetta and Catania the difference is 387 euros. In Lombardy, between Brescia and Milan, the variation is 303 euros.
The cheapest region is Molise where water expenditure is 231 euros per year.
The causes of the increase
The increases are due to several factors, including:
According to the Istat 2020-2024 report, 42.4% of the water introduced into the networks is dispersed due to the bad conditions of the infrastructure. In addition, 39.8% of Italian families believe that the cost of water is too high and, in 2023, 33% of the southern capitals adopted rationing measures to cope with water scarcity.
The water bonus
To support families in difficulty, there is the water bonus, which provides for a discount on a bill for those with an ISEE less than 9,530 euros (20,000 euros for families with at least four dependent children).
The bonus covers 50 liters of water per day per person, but Altroconsumo Asks for an increase in the ISEE thresholds, in order to expand the audience of the beneficiaries, as already happens for gas and electricity bonuses.
How to reduce water consumption
Altroconsumo provides a questionnaire to help families calculate their annual water consumption and receive practical advice to reduce waste. Among the most effective solutions are:
