South Tyrol wastewater infrastructure faces 92 million euro cost surge

Infrastructure costs for wastewater treatment plants in South Tyrol are facing significant pressure due to overtourism. Total investments for completed and planned upgrades are estimated at approximately 92 million euros. This includes 56.2 million euros for expansions in Pontives, San Martino in Passiria, and Sarentino, following a 26.5 million euro investment in the Sinigo plant.

In Val Gardena, the Pontives treatment plant must expand its capacity from roughly 78,000 to 125,000 population equivalents to manage seasonal surges, despite a permanent resident population of only about 10,000. Officials attribute this strain to the growth of hotels, wellness centers, and swimming pools.

The consumer association Robin is advocating for the “polluter pays” principle, arguing that the tourism sector should bear a larger share of these costs. Robin director Andreaus stated that the local community should not be solely responsible for the millions required to upgrade infrastructure necessitated by tourism-driven growth.