MASE: €60 million wastewater reuse plan published in the Gazzetta

• 26 Feb 2026

Italy takes a further step in the protection of water resources with the publication in the Official Gazette (No. 38 of February 16, 2026) of the Decree of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) dated December 24, 2025. The provision establishes the criteria and methods for the allocation of the "Fund for the financing of interventions in the purification and reuse of refined water sector," making a total of 60 million euros available for the sector to be used during the 2025-2027 three-year period.

Objectives of the Interventions

The initiative is part of a framework of persistent climate emergency and aims to transform the purification sector from a mere environmental cost into a pillar of the circular economy, encouraging the systematic recovery of treated wastewater throughout the national territory.

The following are the fields of application and the main objectives that will be financed through the planned interventions:

• Agricultural sector: mitigation of water scarcity and reduction of withdrawals from rivers and aquifers.
• Industrial sector: reuse in production cycles and cooling systems.
• Civil use: use in urban contexts, for example, for the irrigation of green areas or for street cleaning.
• Plant efficiency: transformation of existing purification sites into centers for the recovery of energy resources and nutrients, minimizing environmental impact and management costs.

Allocation of Funds

The total 60 million euros allocated by the decree will be divided among the Regions according to the following multi-year schedule:

• 12 million euros for the year 2025;
• 24 million euros for the year 2026;
• 24 million euros for the year 2027.
• Priority will be given to projects in line with EU regulations and directives, capable of guaranteeing high technological efficiency and consistent with the objectives set by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan).

Local Impact: The Puglia Plan and the San Severo Model

The need to accelerate these infrastructures is evident in areas under the greatest water stress. Puglia, for example, has already planned a strategy consistent with the MASE decree that envisions the activation of 42 refinement plants by 2027, with the goal of producing 68 million cubic meters of water for irrigation.

Demonstrating the operational feasibility of this transition is the San Severo plant (Foggia): built with an investment of 20 million euros, it currently represents the most advanced hub in the region. With a refinement capacity of 4 million cubic meters/year, it serves 4,000 agricultural businesses across 7,000 hectares, providing a concrete example of how water reuse can replace a vital portion of withdrawals from aquifers and reservoirs.

Future Perspectives and the Role of Accadueo

The activation of the MASE fund represents an essential tool for improving the governance of the integrated water cycle, pushing the Regions to create infrastructure capable of reintroducing water into the production cycle.

The theme of water treatment for reuse will be central to the next edition of Accadueo, which will be held from November 26 to 27, 2026, at the Nuova Fiera del Levante in Bari.

Stay constantly updated on all news related to Accadueo and the civil and industrial water sector.