Alba, the city of wine, is becoming a city of water. Thanks to municipal kiosks.

Italians are increasingly choosing public water: more controlled, more economical, and greener. So much so that municipalities are opening more and more water dispensers, like the one in Alba. A successful example to follow: more than 900 liters dispensed per day.

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public water houses

Piedmontese are heavy drinkers. Of tap water. The data doesn't lie: a 2018 study commissioned by the Aqua Italia association estimated that, In the hazelnut region, consumers of tap water, treated or not, reach a record figure of 78 percent, down by as much as two percentage points compared to 2016. This is perhaps due to far-sighted policies supporting public water.

ALSO READ: Water, two wastes. Half of it is lost in the network. And at home we consume 100 liters too much.

PUBLIC WATER HOUSES

The municipality of Alba is a fairly clear example of this: it holds the national record for the number of public water kiosks relative to its population, approximately 32 inhabitants.  Seven kiosks for the distribution of still or sparkling water on tap, at extremely affordable prices, enhancing a resource already available to citizens. Mayor's water, as it's commonly called, is doubly convenient, not only economically but also ecologically. Those who consume the water from the casine have a lower environmental impact because the bottles, whether glass or PET, can be brought from home, saving approximately 6 kilos of plastic per day and consequently lowering emissions of hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. 

The selling price ranges from 2 to 4 cents per liter, and the reception from Alba residents has been, and continues to be, enthusiastic. Public water kiosks cover various areas of the city, supplying almost all of it (Corso Piave, the Moretta neighborhood, Mussotto, Piazza Prunotto, Piana Biglini, Viale Masera, Corso Europa), and are operating at full capacity. A winning gamble for the Piedmontese municipality's Department of the Environment, which has decided to focus on this form of sustainability combined with new lifestyles. The refrigerated water dispensers handle an average of 900 liters of water per day, with countless benefits, including reduced CO2 emissions, less plastic waste to be disposed of properly, and, last but not least, a gentle nudge to rediscover the community, which finds a point of reference around a kiosk. 

public water houses

TO KNOW MORE: Mayor's water is popular with 73,7% of Italians. Kiosks have surpassed 2.000.

ALBA WATER HOUSES

And, indeed, Alba's water kiosks operate all day, without interruption. In the morning, retirees arrive to chat, in the afternoon, children come to see the booths as places to have fun, and in the evening, it's the turn of the young people.

 Furthermore, the water supplied by the water kiosks is doubly safe: both because it undergoes the usual daily checks performed on drinking water and because it is purified and filtered. The nozzles and systems are then disinfected and debacterized with a UV system similar to that used in healthcare settings. 

In short, in Alba they've pioneered a good practice worth copying, to ensure that public water becomes a resource to be valued and a way to foster a sense of community. Clean, safe, eco-friendly, and affordable water. Definitely not to be wasted.

(Image highlighted and accompanying the text taken from the portal of Municipality of Alba)

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