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Abstract

According to the 2015 World Economic Forum, water is identified as the top economic concern moving forward (World Economic Forum, 2015). Through climate change, population growth, increased overall demand, and pollution, the availability of potable water is drastically changing—more severely in some areas than others at this point in time. In Italy, such factors have called attention to the importance of good water governance, as the country faces multiple water issues at once. In the north, climate change has contributed to rising sea levels and increased flooding, while the south faces water scarcity due to climate change and increased demand. Throughout various regions of Italy, contamination and pollution harm the quality of the water supply, as well. The national government has made attempts at coordinating the water systems throughout Italy and setting national standards, but the localized needs of each region cause difficulties with implementation. Increased coordination and higher water literacy within both the authorities as well as the general population could help Italy achieve better water management. This paper utilizes Italy as an example of why establishing strong water management is necessary—highlighting the importance of proactivity and acknowledging the true value of water.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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