by InTrieste
The city of Trieste has begun installing a new network of public water refill stations, known locally as casette dell’acqua, as part of an effort to promote sustainability and reduce plastic consumption.
One of the newly installed stations was presented this week in Via Valmaura by Elisa Lodi, the city councillor for Real Estate Policies and Sport, alongside city councilor Manuela Declich, Andrea Prodan, director of Public Works, and Livio Cusano, one of the partners of the company BBTEC, which manages the service.
The initiative follows the expiration of a previous public land concession under which similar water stations had operated in different parts of the city before being removed. With a new agreement now in place, the city has started reinstalling the refill points in several neighborhoods, aiming for broader and more balanced coverage across Trieste.
“This is a very useful initiative for residents,” Lodi said during the presentation. “The goal is to encourage people to use these systems and to continue raising awareness about reducing plastic waste. The cost of water has remained unchanged compared to the past.”
In addition to Valmaura, stations have already been installed in Roiano (Via dei Morieri), San Giovanni (Rotonda del Boschetto), and Borgo San Sergio (Via Grego). Additional locations in Rozzol Melara (Via Koch), San Vito (Via Locchi), and near the university area in Via Valerio are expected to become operational in the coming days.
Each station will offer water at a cost of 8 euro cents per liter, with the price fixed for the first two years. Rechargeable cards for use at the dispensers will be available through local retailers, whose details will be displayed directly on each unit.
The structures have also been redesigned aesthetically. Each refill station is decorated with historic photographs from the municipal archives, selected to reflect the neighborhood where it is located. Officials said the idea is to create a stronger connection between the service and the identity of each district.
Every station includes payment instructions, a toll-free number for reporting technical issues, and a QR code linking users to chemical and physical water quality analyses. Another QR code directs users to Discover Trieste, the city’s official tourism portal.
The service is managed independently by BBTEC, which owns the stations, with the exception of the municipally owned unit in Via Valerio. Under the agreement with the city, BBTEC is responsible for maintenance, operational costs, and public land occupation fees, while the municipality covers utility expenses such as water and electricity.
Because the project is considered to have significant social and environmental value, the city may also provide financial support if monthly water distribution falls below a certain threshold. Officials said the initiative is intended not only to reduce single-use plastic but also to make affordable drinking water more accessible.
BBTEC has also provided the municipality with 100 prepaid cards loaded with 50 cents each, which will be distributed through social services to low-income families living in the neighborhoods where the refill stations are located.
As part of the contract, the company has committed to organizing future environmental awareness campaigns, including plastic-free initiatives, educational activities in local schools, and information campaigns highlighting environmental benefits such as plastic reduction, water quality, and lower carbon emissions.
All stations are expected to be fully operational once final administrative procedures and water meter activations are completed in the coming days.
