The information value for territorial and economic sustainability in the enhancement of the water management process

Abstract

The Integrated Water Service (IWS) makes use of technological infrastructures that are part of the more general process of the natural water cycle, significantly changing its eco-systemic structure. The management of the aqueducts is a strategic link in the sustainability chain; its mission is to contain the catabolic effects of dialectic between social system and environment, caused by inadequacies in the design, construction and maintenance of capillary networks in large part obsolete. Starting from some analyses of the criticalities of the infrastructure management, the contribution focuses on information as production factor, whose implementation may help resolve major problems, especially in the planning of interventions to improve efficiency of the underground pipelines network. With reference to the ATO of Caltanissetta, we estimate the positive economic impact that the implementation of ICT-based technologies have on the extension of the territory covered by the IWS, given the quality target.