Umbria is the first Italian region to implement continuous and widespread monitoring of PFAS in drinking water. This initiative marks a turning point in the protection of public health and transparent management of water resources.
An innovative protocol for water safety
The protocol signed between the Umbria Region, ARPA, the USL Umbria 1 and 2, AURI, and the water managers Umbra Acque, SII and VUS establishes a system of constant analysis of drinking water throughout the regional territory. This action not only anticipates the deadlines set by national legislation (13 January 2026), but also represents a model of cooperation between public bodies and managers.
The operational plan: sampling and analysis throughout the territory
The objective of the program is to systematically monitor the presence of PFAS in waters, collecting updated data to ensure the safety of citizens. The operational plan involves the sampling and analysis of 228 water samples in the period October-December 2025, with analysis of 30 variants of PFAS and the 4 main compounds. Umbra Acque will collect 80 samples, SII 35 and VUS 113. Furthermore, USL 1 and 2, with the support of ARPA Umbria, will carry out 72 independent checks at strategic points of the water network.
Transparency and access to data: the new frontier of monitoring
A fundamental aspect of this protocol is transparency: all the data collected will be shared between the signatories and made public by January 2026, through a technical-scientific report. Citizens will be able to consult the results online on the portal www.lacquachebevo.it.
If PFAS levels exceed the established limits, managers will repeat the samples and, if the contamination is confirmed, joint actions will be taken between the Region, ARPA, AURI, ASL and Municipalities.
How the intervention works in case of contamination
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 the Municipalities to define the necessary actions.
Umbria as a national model of safe water management
With this protocol, Umbria positions itself as a pioneer at a national level in the safe and transparent management of drinking water. Councilor Thomas De Luca stated that the initiative anticipates the 2026 national legislation and invites the Government to consider the introduction of laws that prohibit the use of PFAS. De Luca underlined how this action makes tap water safer than bottled water, demonstrating the effectiveness of monitoring to guarantee water quality.
The crucial role of monitoring
The continuous monitoring of PFAS not only improves the safety of Umbrian citizens, but also constitutes a model that could be adopted by other Italian regions, highlighting that water quality must be monitored daily, with transparency and institutional collaboration.
A call to the government: ban PFAS for water safety
Councilor Thomas De Luca also added:
Through the signing of this protocol, Umbria becomes the first region in Italy to implement continuous monitoring of tap water with regards to 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.
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