APCOM

Water is humanity's most important resource. According to the UN, over one billion people worldwide do not have an adequate supply of drinking water. Heavy demands on the earth's surface waters have resulted in serious shortages in about 80 countries. On March 22nd the World Water Day, an initiative created in 1992 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, was celebrated again in order to make public opinion aware of these issues.

In Italy, environmentalist association Legambiente and magazine Altraeconomia have launched an other time 'Imbrocchiamola' ('brocca' is the Italian word for jug), a campaign whose aim is to promote the use of tap water in restaurants and bars. In the last 12 months, more than 600 businesses have joined the cause, 22 of whom only in Milano. On their windows, they display a sticker through which customers know that inside it is possible to order a jug of tap water. Legambiente points out that Italy is the nation with the record consumption of bottles of water: 194 litres per head in 2006, over half a litre per day.

"Milano is the Italian city where the highest quantity of water bottles are drunk. - claims Damiano Di Simine, president of Legambiente Lombardia - Only 4% of Milanesi are accustomed to drinking tap water". This habit seems to be due to the preconception that the water distributed by aqueducts is not safe, while few people know that 96% of Italian tap water is drinkable. Maybe even fewer people know that every year 910,000 tons of carbon dioxide are used to realise plastic bottles and only 35% are recycled. Besides, the economic advantage would also be significant: according to Legambiente: "If every family drank tap water it would save around 300 euros per year".