Residents of Italy's Aeolian Islands are engaged in a heated debate over the best solution to their water supply challenges. Without natural drinking water, the islands are considering two main options: building more desalination plants or continuing to bring in water by ship.
Current Water Supply Situation
Vulcano, one of the archipelago's eight islands, has achieved autonomy for drinking water through an existing desalination plant with large white silos. However, Stromboli still relies on ships with water cisterns. During bad weather, when ships can't dock, the island faces water shortages, as highlighted by restaurant owner Angelo Mirabito.
Tourist Influx and Water Demand
The summer influx of tourists poses a significant challenge for the Aeolian Islands, which have only around 15,000 year-round residents. In 2024, the last year for which official data is available, the number of tourist arrivals was 146,000 people.
Desalination Plant Performance
Fabio Pupillo, an engineer for Sopes, the company managing the desalination plant in Vulcano, stated that the plant has been producing a constant 300,000 cubic metres of drinking water per year for the past decade. The cost of desalinated water is approximately two euros per cubic metre, compared to 14 euros per cubic metre for water brought by ship, a cost covered by the defence ministry.
Environmental and Economic Considerations
Italy ranks second to Spain in the EU for desalination capacity, accounting for around 7.6 percent of daily EU production, according to The European House -- Ambrosetti. However, a plan for four new desalination plants on the islands of Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea, and Stromboli has sparked controversy. Some associations and residents argue there is insufficient data on the environmental impact, given the fragile ecosystems of the area.
Alternative Solutions and Future Prospects
Giuseppe Amato from environmental NGO Legambiente supports the use of desalination plants as an appropriate response to hydrological crises but emphasizes the need for careful planning and wise usage. The environmental foundation Marevivo has called for a suspension of the authorisation procedure for the desalination plants, advocating for alternative solutions such as recycling water, collecting rainwater, and better management of tourist demand.
