Heineken Italy launches ‘Valore Acqua’ project to protect Murgia aquifer

Heineken Italia, in partnership with the regional agency ARIF, has begun the “Valore Acqua” programme in Massafra, Taranto. The initiative aims to reduce pressure on the karstic Murgia aquifer by re‑activating an unused 10 000 m³ storage tank fed by surface water from the Bradano river and the San Giuliano dam in Basilicata. The recovered water will be distributed to the agricultural area of Contrada Borgo Perrone, lowering groundwater extraction and mitigating the risk of saline intrusion.

The project is part of a broader response to severe water stress in Italy, especially in Puglia where reservoir levels have fallen below 50 % of the ten‑year average. Heineken Italy reports that the effort will save up to 318 000 m³ of water annually – roughly the volume of 130 Olympic‑size swimming pools – and aligns with the company’s sustainability record of cutting its water use per hectoliter of beer by 60 % since 2010. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2028, after which the system will undergo testing and certification.