Umbria paves the way for a new model of environmental control. It is in fact the first Italian region to start continuous and widespread monitoring of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water intended for human consumption. A turning point in the protection of public health and the transparent management of water resources.
The new protocol, signed between the Umbria Region, ARPA, USL Umbria 1 and 2, AURI and the water managers Umbra Acque, SII and VUS, introduces a system of constant analysis of tap water throughout the regional territory. An action that not only anticipates the deadlines set by national legislation (13 January 2026), but which also represents a concrete example of institutional cooperation between public bodies and managers.
The objective is simple but ambitious: systematically verify the presence of PFAS in Umbrian waters, collecting updated and reliable data to guarantee maximum safety for citizens.
What the protocol provides
The operational plan includes a structured program of sampling and laboratory analyses, distributed uniformly across the territory:
The monitoring activity will allow us to build a complete cognitive picture of the state of Umbrian waters, identifying any critical issues and preparing corrective measures or specific treatment plants.
Transparency and access to data
One of the most relevant aspects of the protocol is transparency in the management of results. All data collected will be shared among the signatories and published by January 2026 in a technical-scientific report.
Subsequently, it will be possible to consult them directly online through the portal www.lacquachebevo.it, so as to make the analyzes of the water distributed in the area accessible to citizens.
If the established limits are exceeded, an immediate intervention mechanism will be activated: the managers will repeat the samples and, if non-standard contamination is confirmed, joint assessments will be activated between the Region, ARPA, AURI, ASL and Municipalities to define the necessary actions.
With this protocol, Umbria takes a decisive step towards safer, more transparent and sustainable management of drinking water, positioning itself as a pilot region at national level. The Government is also asked to seriously consider banning PFAS. Councilor Thomas De Luca declared:
Through the signing of this protocol, Umbria becomes the first region in Italy to implement continuous monitoring of tap water, with regards to the so-called Pfas. Pollutants with which, unfortunately, we will have to deal more and more and we are making a request to the Government for legislation through which they will be banned. This is a strategic action to make the water that Umbrian citizens use in their homes and public places safe and to demonstrate that tap water is safer even than bottled water, being able to guarantee its healthiness through this monitoring. We will have a double sampling and analyzes that will verify the presence of Pfas within the regional waters which will start immediately, thus bringing forward the deadline of 13 January 2026, foreseen by national legislation, for the adoption of the necessary measures to guarantee compliance of the waters with the quality parameters envisaged for human consumption.
The constant monitoring of PFAS represents not only an investment in the safety of citizens, but also a replicable model for other Italian regions.
An important signal that reminds us that water quality cannot be taken for granted, but must be guaranteed day after day, with data, controls and collaboration between institutions.
