A complex journey has finally led to a significant achievement for Albenga: the right bank of the Centa (Vadino) will also benefit from wastewater treatment. This milestone was reached thanks to the effective management of the local administration.
Mayor Riccardo Tomatis outlined the key steps leading to this achievement. The issue of wastewater treatment has always been a priority for both the current administration and the previous one led by Cangiano. It was under their leadership that the path to the construction of the Viale Che Guevara plant, inaugurated in 2020, began. “It was then that we managed to treat 70% of Albenga’s sewage,” Tomatis recalled.
While this was a significant milestone, the goal has always been to treat 100% of the sewage. The administration’s determination was crucial in advancing the completion of the treatment, a project designed by engineer Angelo Gallea. Through this commitment, a conference of services was initiated, and the revised project was submitted for funding through the PNRR funds, secured as per the decree of August 9, 2023, n.262.
On September 19, 2023, the city council unanimously expressed support for the project to connect the Vadino district to the treatment system, also emphasizing the need to connect the local treatment plants of Bastia, Campochiesa, and Salea. In October, the Province approved the findings of the service conference.
Further considerations were made to enhance the Borghetto treatment plant, a project funded through resources for investment 4.4 in sewage and treatment. In May 2024, a Program Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Environment, the Region, and the Province of Savona to implement the interventions.
Regarding funding, the mayor stated: “The project connecting Vadino to the pre-treatment facility on Viale Che Guevara has a budget of 5,925,398.19 euros, of which 3,923,689.43 are financed through PNRR funds.” The remaining amount will be covered through a loan, facilitated by Dr. Maricone, president of APS, overcoming challenges in merging the service operators in the province of Savona, along with 800,000 euros contributed by the Municipality of Albenga. These funds come from amounts earmarked for purification, derived from tariff quotas allocated for this purpose.
Lastly, the mayor emphasized the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Municipality, the Province, and APS, calling it a pivotal moment for Albenga, the region, and the environment.
The merger process of operational managers into Acque Pubbliche Savonesi (APS) marks a notable advancement in managing water resources in the Savona area. Following an initial phase of tensions, thanks to Dr. Maricone’s mediating skills, the Savona Water Purification Consortium, Environmental Services, and Sca decided to join forces. This merger, involving entirely publicly-owned companies, will focus on the single ATO extending from Laigueglia to Varazze.
The aim is to complete the merger by December 31, 2025, thereby ensuring access to PNRR funds intended for improving existing facilities. Key goals include optimizing administrative bodies to reduce costs, enhancing management, and ensuring transparency. Additionally, significant area-level interventions are planned, accessing ARERA contributions to improve service quality, and maintaining water resources as public assets, avoiding private management.
The current regulations, introduced by the Galli Law and subsequently by Legislative Decree 152/2006, have defined the concept of an integrated water service. The territory of Savona is managed according to an optimal territorial area (ATO), established by the regional resolution of 1997. The Provinces coordinate the relevant authorities, while the Municipalities participate in the decision-making process with voting rights in the Conference of the Area.
The Province of Savona plays a crucial role in managing the integrated water ATO, overseeing the effectiveness and optimization of water abstraction, distribution, disposal, and purification services. It is also responsible for drafting and approving area plans, which include management and tariff strategies for the reference period.
A significant project is the Vadino connection to the purification network. Following various assessments, the chosen solution involves upgrading the Vadino treatment plant, which will become a pumping station. The wastewater will be transported through new sewer pipes to an underground compensation tank located at the former courthouse square on Via Bologna. From here, the wastewater will merge into the existing sewer network, reaching the pumping stations on Viale 8 Marzo and Viale Che Guevara. The project, innovative and environmentally conscious, includes the use of green technologies, such as photovoltaic canopies to power the pumping stations.
