Italy celebrates a new way of commodifying water – with the blessingof Pope Francis: Water Houses. Presented as a technological evolution of the ancient Italian fountains and located in strategic areas and meeting places, these facilities allow people to drink free still and sparkling water and recharge electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets thanks to integrated USB sockets. Each dispenser has a flow rate of 180 litres per hour, enough to fill a one-litre bottle in just 20 seconds.
Acea (Azienda Comunale Energia e Ambientes), an Italian public holding company, operates in the sector of integrated water services. It has installed around 160 Water Houses throughout the country, 14 of which are located along the Jubilee routes in the capital. Two of these are in the Vatican, while the other 12 are located in the city centre: Viale San Paolo, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore and Castel Sant’Angelo. Designed for the Jubilee 2025, these facilities offer pilgrims and tourists access to Rome’s water, considered to be among the purest and most certified in the world.
During a ceremony at the Vatican, Pope Francis blessed one of the water houses installed for the Jubilee, in the presence of Acea’s President, Barbara Marinali, and CEO, Fabrizio Palermo.
Sources: La Repubblica / Radio Roma Capitale (Italian)
