Leading water supply and sanitation companies in Italy 2021, by revenue

Hera S.p.A. (Holding Energia Risorse Ambiente) was the leading enterprise in the water management sector in Italy in 2021, with a revenue of approximately 1.3 billion euros. Egea commerciale S.r.l. followed in the ranking, as its revenues reached about 1.28 million euros that year. By comparison, all other water supply and sanitation companies in the country had revenues below 700 million euros.

Regional-based water supply companies

Hera and Egea are both based in the north of Italy: while Hera is headquartered in Bologna and operates in the northeast and center of the country, Egea supplies water to the northwestern region of Piedmont and is based in the city of Cuneo. In 2021, approximately 60 percent of the turnover of the leading water supply companies in Italy was produced in the north of the country. In fact, the Po River, the springs, and wells located in this area accounted for almost 50 percent of the water extracted in Italy because of the proximity to the Alps.

Irregularities in water supply in Italy

In 2022, almost 10 percent of Italian families complained about irregularities in the water supply. In the islands and the south of the country, complaint rates were around 20 percent. Not only were these macro-regions of Italy the most affected by water supply interruptions because of water shortages, but they also accounted for water loss rates of roughly 50 percent of the total water supply, due to leakages.