Sardinia water supply disruption and political fallout

A technical failure in the Coghinas 2 aqueduct in Castelsardo has triggered a water emergency across several Sardinian cities, including Sassari, Alghero, Porto Torres, and Stintino. The fault disrupted the raw water supply to the Truncu Reale and Monte Agnese treatment plants.

In Alghero, the crisis was exacerbated by high turbidity and silt levels in the Cuga reservoir, which prevented effective filtration. To manage the shortage, Abbanoa implemented emergency plans including scheduled service interruptions to allow reservoirs to refill, the deployment of water tankers, and the preparation of water pouches for distribution.

In Sassari, the disruption led to scheduled shutdowns in multiple neighborhoods, such as the Historic Center, Monte Rosello, Sacro Cuore, Piandanna, Via Milano, Predda Niedda, and Li Punti. While Porto Torres attempted to maintain stability using local wells, the water authority Enas and Abbanoa have been coordinating repairs and managing the emergency response through task forces and coordination with local mayors.

As the crisis persists, Giuseppe Mascia, the Mayor of Sassari and the Metropolitan City, has issued an ultimatum regarding the recurring emergency. He criticized ongoing service disruptions, which have included water restrictions and instances of “turbid, foul-smelling water.” Mascia identified a primary cause of instability as the failure to interconnect the final sections of the Coghinas 1 and Coghinas 2 aqueducts at Porto Torres. He noted that while the regional government has allocated investments for modernizing the aging network, the necessary interconnection remains incomplete and previous emergency protocols have not been honored.