SIE water utility faces municipal legal action over Mascali plant and refunds deposit fees

A consortium serving the municipalities of Giarre, Riposto, Mascali, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia and Sant’Alfio sent a formal notice to SIE Spa, the single‑operator of the Integrated Water Service, demanding that the company take over the Mascali wastewater treatment plant in the Sant’Anna district and pay the overdue management fees. The notice warned that, if SIE does not assume control within fifteen days, the consortium will pursue judicial action and ask the Catania water authority to enforce the contract.

Mayor Davide Vasta of Riposto said the demand “represents a necessary act to protect the consortium municipalities and the citizens we represent.” In response to concerns from mayors of the affected towns, SIE announced it will cancel the first installment of the security deposit charged to domestic‑resident customers and will adjust future bills accordingly, offering a credit to those who have already paid.

The move follows earlier agreements to postpone the next two deposit installments to 2027, aiming to ease the financial burden on households after the recent shift from municipal tariffs to the ARERA‑based rates applied by the single operator.