Approximately 50% of the drinking water resource necessary to meet the requirements in the Romagna area (provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Rimini) is guaranteed by the Romagna Waterworks.

The Romagna Waterworks are supplied by the water collected in the Ridracoli artificial storage capacity formed by the Ridracoli dam that blocks the Bidente stream. The 30-million-cubic-metre storage capacity is located inside the Foreste Casentinesi Park. The Ridracoli storage capacity has an important function of annual recompense as it allows water to be stored during the periods of abundant precipitation to make it available during the summer periods when a scarcity of hydrological availability overlaps the high demand caused by the presence of tourists at the Romagna Riviera.

The water is treated for potability at the Capaccio centre in the Municipality of Santa Sofia.

The Romagna Waterworks are able to supply roughly 50 million cubic metres of water every year. The amount of water that can actually be used each year depends on the quantity and distribution during the time of precipitation at the storage capacity.

The Romagna Waterworks is managed by Romagna Acque S.p.A., which supplies it to HERA through a wholesale supply contract.

The annual quantities to be allocated to the various territorial areas are established by the competent ATOs based on the needs of the different areas, the availability of other sources of supply, and the technical limitations of the existing water systems.

The remaining portion of demand is covered with surface water (Ravenna potability treatment plant) and with underground water appropriately treated for potability. In terms of quantity and excellent quality, some of the important underground water is that extracted from the alluvial deposits of the Marecchia river in the Rimini area.

Page updated 22 August 2011