Italian courts confirm acquittal of ten defendants in Gran Sasso water case

The appellate court in Teramo upheld the acquittal of ten individuals previously charged over alleged contamination of the Gran Sasso water supply. The investigation, opened in 2017 after an emergency that halted potable water for 32 municipalities in the province of Teramo, had implicated former managers of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the construction firm Strada dei Parchi and Ruzzo Reti.

On 28 July 2026 the prosecution chose not to appeal the first‑instance judgment, rendering the verdict final. Judge Claudia Di Valerio ruled that the alleged offence – creating a danger of water contamination – was not substantiated, citing a lack of scientific proof of a real risk. Both INFN and Strada dei Parchi were found to have applied adequate preventive measures. The case, which has dominated public debate for years, now closes without any criminal liability.