Sannio water management faces privatization concerns

The Sanità acqua bene comune committee has addressed the ongoing debate regarding water management in the Sannio region. While mayors from Reino, San Marco dei Cavoti, and Apice are currently protesting the loss of decision-making power to centralized bureaucratic models, the committee notes that these protests come too late.

In September 2022, a proposal was made to create a list for public water to ensure small municipalities had a voice and could prevent privatization within the Ente Idrico Campano. However, the mayors involved chose to join a single unified list instead of the coordinated public water project. This fragmentation allowed the Municipality of Benevento and Mayor Clemente Mastella to shape the current structure of Sannio Acque S.r.l., a mixed company controlled by Acea spa, which the committee views as a move toward privatizing water resources.

The committee argues that the lack of local influence is a result of Regional Law 15/2015, which stripped small local entities of decision-making authority. They are calling on the Campania Region and President Fico to amend this law to restore representation to citizens.