Water from the tap is good and safe
Small Guide for a critical consumption of water. From the tap to the bottle, guide-book for a responsible use of a common resource.
Reference: Luca Martinelli, editor of the review Altreconomia
Water from the tap is good and safe
– it is double checked by the integrated hydraulic system (including sewerage and depuration) by the Local Health Corporation
– the regulations forbid the salinity of the potable water to be higher than 1.500mg/lt. The water from the aqueducts has a low mineral content ranging from 500 to 1.500mg/lt
– tap water does not need to be filtered: filter jugs for example reduce the calcium substituting it with sodium; reverse osmosis systems produce water which is excessively demineralised. For those who complain about the taste of chlorine in the water it is sufficient to leave a jug of water in the fridge for half an hour.
Problems:
– the values in the parameters may undergo variations from the rules and there is no register of these variations available for the consumers
– the irresponsibility of some companies that manage the water distribution, who consciously allow polluted water to be distributed.
Examples of Good practices in some Municipalities:
· Tap water served in school refectories: reduces waste (no plastic bottles) and educates children to a conscious consumption of water
· Progress campaigns sustaining the use of tap water for drinking: launched by municipalities with slogans like “If it were bottled would you like it more?” or “Open the tap, done with plastic”. The autonomous Province of Trento invested 100.000 euros for a months advertisement on the radio (www.provincia.tn.it);
· Identity card for water: some distributors send together with the bill all the information related to the water they supply. Restaurants and bars serving tap water can print this information and stick it on the jugs. Realized in the municipalities of Milan and Rome (www.capgestione.it; www.aqp.it)
· Water houses: set in public places usually gardens, these structures distribute fizzy and natural water (the same one that is distributed in the houses) and refrigerated water. The aim is to promote the consumption of water from the aqueduct instead of bottled. Realized in Milan (www.sudmiacqua.it).
· Water and Nature: the municipality of Capannori (Lucca) is restoring 15 fountains that used to be the source of water for the inhabitants. Disinfecting systems will be installed and two “water parks” created. Near each fountain notices will be placed with the information on the analysis of the water, its chemical and mineral characteristics, as well as the history of the fountain and the map of the parks (www.comune.capannori.it)