Residents across Florence are being warned to expect low water pressure and possible supply interruptions from late Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17 as utility company Publiacqua carries out one of the most delicate phases of a major infrastructure upgrade to the city’s water network.
The operation is part of the modernization of the so-called water highway, the large-scale aqueduct system that supplies Florence and several neighbouring municipalities such as Prato across the Florentine plain.
The works focus on a major construction site between viale Gramsci and viale della Giovine Italia where new pipelines have been installed in recent months. Between May 15 and 17, engineers will perform the crucial connections, linking the new pipes to key sections of the water network along lungarno Pecori Giraldi and lungarno Colombo.
To reduce disruption, Publiacqua will deploy 13 emergency water tankers across Florence where residents can collect drinking water during the most critical hours of the works. The tankers will be located in piazza Berlinguer (Mandela Forum area), via Masaccio by viale Mazzini, piazza dei Re (Cascine area), via del Palazzaccio by via Reginaldo Giuliani, via delle Panche by Via Carlo del Greco, viale Guidoni (fruit and vegetable market parking area), via Buonsignori (Leonardo da Vinci Institute), piazza Baldinucci (Romito area), piazza Santa Maria Novella, stradone dell’Ospedale (Torregalli area), piazza delle Cure, piazza Desiderio da Settignano, and lungarno Aldo Moro, near Teatro Cartiere Carrara.
The utility company is warning residents that temporary discolouration or cloudiness in tap water may occur both before and during the works.
Areas facing the greatest disruption
Areas in the Red Zone (Statuto, Castello, Poggetto, Sodo, Rifredi north of the railway station, much of Campo di Marte, piazza Beccaria, Santa Maria Novella station, piazza della Libertà, and parts of the historic centre north of borgo la Croce) are expected to experience severe pressure drops and possible water outages throughout the day, including at street level.
In the Orange Zone (parts of Florence’s historic centre south of Santa Maria Novella station, Coverciano, Rovezzano, Sant’Andrea a Rovezzano and areas east of via Piagentina and viale De Amicis), significant pressure reductions and intermittent outages are expected mainly between 2 pm and midnight, particularly on upper floors of buildings without adequate pumping systems.
The Yellow Zone is expected to experience more limited disruptions, primarily during evening peak demand hours between 7 pm and midnight. Neighborhoods include Settignano, Careggi, Cascine, Peretola, Isolotto, Legnaia, Ponte a Greve, Bellosguardo, parts of Galluzzo, and several western and northern suburbs.
Publiacqua will send automated phone calls to landlines, text alerts to subscribers of its Acqua Alert notification service and provide continuous updates through social media and its website. Customer support will remain active throughout the works via Publiacqua’s Facebook page and through the 24-hour emergency hotline at 800 314 314.
