26 August 2025

Drought in Italy: The Urgent Need for Responsible Wastewater Management

In recent years, drought in Italy has gone from an exceptional phenomenon to a chronic condition. Dry rivers, historic low lakes, and increasingly deep aquifers have become the new face of the water emergency, in some regions more than others. A combination of interconnected factors is influencing this scenario: climate change, which brings longer, hotter summers; inefficient management of water infrastructure; increasing environmental pollution; and the failure to maximize existing resources.

It’s not just a question of quantity: it’s the quality of the response that’s at stake. Because if water becomes scarce, it’s our duty to learn how to conserve, purify, and reuse it. In this context, wastewater represents an often undervalued yet strategic resource. Through efficient purification and recovery systems, we can transform what was previously considered waste into a valuable ally in the fight against the water crisis.

It is precisely in this context that the role of first flush water treatment plants comes into play, key devices for the sustainable management of water resources and for reducing the impact of urban and industrial pollution.

Addressing drought also means radically rethinking the water cycle, focusing on reliable technologies, technical expertise, and a concrete environmental vision. For over forty years, Di Camillo has been working alongside public bodies and private companies in the design of water treatment plants, with customized solutions geared toward sustainability and efficiency.

The Hidden Value of Wastewater

In today’s context, wastewater can no longer be considered simply waste to be disposed of. Instead, it represents a concrete opportunity to recover significant volumes of water, reduce environmental impact, and create a virtuous cycle that transforms waste into sustainability.

“Wastewater” refers to all flows from civil, industrial, or rainwater uses that, once collected, can be treated, purified, and reused. With current technologies, wastewater recovery can achieve extremely high levels of quality, making this water perfectly suitable for non-potable uses such as:

• agricultural irrigation,
• industrial surface washing,
• replenishment of aquifers or surface water bodies,
• use in cooling systems and production processes.

The reuse of treated wastewater, already provided for and encouraged by European and Italian regulations (such as EU Regulation 2020/741), is one of the most effective strategies for addressing the water crisis. Yet, in Italy, the potential of this resource remains largely untapped: according to ISPRA data, less than 5% of treated wastewater is actually recovered.

This systemic waste must be addressed urgently. And the solution involves the construction of high-performance purification plants, their proper maintenance, and a cultural paradigm shift: water must not only be used, but regenerated.

Tailored wastewater treatment solutions: the reliability of Di Camillo systems

Effectively addressing the water crisis requires adequate infrastructure and reliable technologies, capable not only of meeting regulatory requirements but also of responding to the real needs of local communities, businesses, and public entities. With this in mind, Di Camillo offers a complete range of wastewater treatment systems, designed to ensure maximum efficiency, ease of management, and long-term durability.

Among the most popular solutions are Imhoff systems, ideal for the primary treatment of sewage in residential or rural settings where a centralized sewer system is not present. These systems exploit sedimentation and anaerobic digestion of sludge for effective purification with low energy impact.

For more complex situations, such as communities, manufacturing operations, or tourist facilities, Di Camillo offers activated sludge biological systems, capable of significantly reducing organic loads through controlled aerobic processes. These reliable, modular solutions can be customized based on hydraulic load and environmental conditions.

Completing the offering are constructed wetlands and rainwater treatment systems (including first flush), which also manage and recover water from impermeable surfaces and widespread contaminants. All products are designed to ensure:

• high purification performance,
• simplified maintenance,
• resistance to variable loads and critical environmental conditions.

The added value? The technical and design approach that distinguishes Di Camillo: each system is custom-designed, with expert support during sizing, installation, and testing. This expertise, built over 40 years of experience, translates into reliability, regulatory compliance, and operational sustainability.

For those seeking a concrete response to the challenge of water scarcity, choosing a Di Camillo system means more than just respecting the environment: it means investing in conscious and forward-thinking water management.

If you—as a company, organization, or professional—believe that water should be regenerated, not just consumed, then it’s time to act. Discover how Di Camillo systems can integrate into your projects, improve the water efficiency of your facilities, and contribute to a more balanced future.

Because the next climate emergency must be fought drop by drop, project by project. And it all starts with an informed, technical, and conscious choice. Contact us for a consultation focused on your needs.