Our member Gruppo CAP, the public water utility serving the Metropolitan City of Milan, has launched the first dual water network in Rho (Italy), an innovative system that combines the traditional water network with a second network dedicated to non-potable water, intended for street cleaning, irrigation, and other civil uses where drinking-quality water is not required. 

The initiative is part of Gruppo CAP’s commitment to resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. By creating a separate network that distributes non-potable water drawn from the first aquifer, an underground water layer not suitable for human consumption but safe for other uses, the utility aims to preserve high-quality drinking water for essential needs while supporting more sustainable urban infrastructure.

The non-potable water is distributed through a dedicated 2-kilometre-long pipeline that reaches selected municipal users and residential buildings, including condominiums. 

Gruppo CAP’s project is an example of how public water operators can take the lead in implementing practical, forward-thinking solutions that align with the EU Water Resilience Strategy, particularly embodying the "water efficiency first" principle by optimising resource use and safeguarding high-quality drinking water.