From May 9 to 11, over 350,000 residents in Florence and nearby municipalities may experience water supply disruptions due to major infrastructure works by Publiacqua, the local water utility. The operation, part of a €30 million upgrade co-financed by Italy’s PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), will affect ten municipalities and aims to strengthen what Publiacqua calls the “water highway” — a key pipeline system for the region.
What’s Happening?
The core of the work involves connecting new water mains along Viale Matteotti and Piazza Beccaria, vital intersections in Florence’s water distribution network. The project is designed to improve long-term service reliability but will cause temporary water pressure drops and possible outages across multiple areas as the network is modified.
When and Where?
- Works begin the night of Friday, May 9, with the connection of new pipelines.
- Water will gradually return to normal from the evening of Saturday, May 10, with full restoration expected by Sunday.
To manage the situation, 34 water trucks will be deployed across the affected area and additional personnel will be on duty. Increased output from the Mantignano and Prato facilities will help reduce disruption.
Areas Most Affected
The impacted area is divided into three zones, based on expected severity:
- Red Zone (most affected): Full-day water outages and pressure drops likely in:
- Florence: Novoli, Cascine, Rifredi, Statuto, Dalmazia, Cure, Stadium area, Mercafir, lower Castello
- Prato, Campi Bisenzio, Signa, San Mauro a Signa, Sant’Angelo a Lecore
- Orange Zone (mid-level impact, especially between 2 p.m. and midnight):
- Florence city center (especially the area between the Arno River, Viale Fratelli Rosselli, Viale Strozzi, Viale Lavagnini, Viale Matteotti, and Viale Giovine Italia)
- Soffiano, Calenzano, Campi Bisenzio, Sesto Fiorentino
- Prato: Figline and Santa Lucia districts
- Yellow Zone (less severe, evening pressure drops and short outages expected):
- Remaining areas of Florence, Calenzano, Sesto Fiorentino, Agliana, Quarrata, Poggio a Caiano, Carmignano
Some mild disruptions could also occur in Scandicci, Fiesole, Montemurlo, Serravalle Pistoiese, Vaiano, and Pistoia.
What Residents Should Do
- Store drinking water in advance.
- Limit water use during the affected period.
- Stay informed through updates on the Publiacqua website or social media channels.
This large-scale operation reflects Florence’s ongoing investment in modernizing essential infrastructure. While the temporary inconvenience is real, the long-term benefits include a more resilient and efficient water network for the entire metro area.