Water: Italy meritocracy ‘on waste everyone does their part’

“Sensitivity to environmental issues has grown in recent years. According to Istat data, in 2020 40.6% of Italians say they are worried about water pollution, with younger groups. Yet the average consumption of households in Italy it is among the highest in Europe. Specifically, on average, about 240 liters of water per person are consumed every day, 66% more than the world average. The national water network distributes over 8 billion cubic meters every year , of which about 14% represents domestic consumption, including gardens. The water losses, due to inefficient infrastructures, represent a good 42% of the total, so already recovering these losses could guarantee the water needs of about 44 million. more people in a year, or two thirds of Italians “. This is what Meritocrazia Italia notes in a note. “The report by the Cittadinanzattiva Observatory on Prices and Tariffs also states that Italians do not trust tap water and waste too much of it even though over 46% of the interviewees consume it for drinking, against 43.7% who prefers bottled water, doubting the quality produced by the aqueducts or not liking it. Each family spends on average € 12.5 per month on the purchase of bottled mineral water, two euros less than the costs. In this scenario – explains Meritocrazia Italia -, the average expenditure for water of Italian families still increases which in 2020 was equal to € 448.00 per year against € 434.00 in 2019, recording an increase in the bill of 2.6% from one year to the next. Even if a large majority of citizens do not know the tariff applied to their bills and do not know of the existence of the social water bonus, which allows them not to pay a minimum quantity of water per person per year “. “It is necessary – Meritocrazia Italia remarks – greater attention to an informed use and responsible management of water resources, starting with good family practices, which are so widespread and well-known but little respected. Please remember that: turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaves saves 6 liters of water per minute; decreasing the shower time allows you to reduce water consumption from 6 to 10 liters per minute and preferring it to the bathroom results in a 75% saving; pay attention to the toilet cisterns, since the most modern with double button compared to the traditional ones reduce the consumption of about 26,000 liters of water per year; repairing the dripping taps can quickly solve a problem that causes the loss of 21,000 liters of water per year for each tap; using the water from the dehumidifier or air conditioner for the iron, in addition to saving on the bill, it allows you to extend the life of the appliance as it has no limestone; replacing old appliances with energy star models allows you to save 50% of water and to regulate the quantity supplied based on the load, i.e. about 8200 liters per year; defrosting food in the air or in a bowl rather than under running water avoids wasting 6 liters of water per minute; installing a phytodepuration tank in the garden allows you to have a small natural purifier that will filter black and gray water to return water resources to be used for irrigation; putting a floating blanket on the pool when not in use allows you to slow down evaporation and save from 1000 to 4000 liters of water per month, depending on the climate zone and the size of the pool “, concludes Meritocrazia Italia.