Empirical study of the environmental management of Italy's drinking water supply

Italian drinking water supply structure includes two main systems: tap water and bottled water. Thanks to the first, drinking water is available almost all around domestic territory while bottled water represents one of the ways to make water available where and/or when there is no tap water. Due to the changing eating habits and lifestyles bottled water has become a large consumption beverage provoking a growth rate of the drinking water industry. The objective of this study is the analysis of the key environmental issues related to the Italian drinking water supply systems and of practical solutions for improving the sustainability of the both systems. The results obtained highlight that bottled water is less environmentally friendly than tap water because it requires much higher material (130–154 kg/m3) and energy (1000–4900 MJ/m3) inputs than tap water (respectively equal to 0.5–1.3 kg/m3 and 2–3 MJ/m3) and generates more waste (130–155 kg/m3 of bottled water versus 0.3–0.7 kg/m3 of tap one). Among the different possible opportunities, to improve the sustainability of bottled water the authors present different options mainly related to the recycling of post-consumption bottles and the organization of logistics. With regard to tap water the main points of criticism are water losses and energy costs. Quantitative evaluations of the given alternatives make this analysis a concrete example of how it is possible (and necessary) for industrial sectors to implement environmental management to settle company development and environmental sustainability.

► We examine changes in beverage consumption habits, which boosted bottled water share.
► We use material flow analysis for showing key environmental issues of drinking water.
► The results highlight that bottled water is less environmentally friendly than tap.
► We show alternative options to achieve sustainability and environmental management.
► Recycling of bottles and organization of logistics are one of the most right options.