Pesaro, August 17, 2026 – “In Pesaro, since last night, water is gradually returning to all homes.” This is the message launched by the mayor of Pesaro Andrea Biancani and reiterated by Marche Multiservizi, referring to the chaos that occurred during the Ferragosto weekend with the three breaks in the aqueduct (photo) – caused by the breakage of some pipes – which left the city and the nearby valley municipalities without water on Saturday and Sunday. Naturally enraging hoteliers and shopkeepers (who are now seeking damages) due to the serious disruption caused by the inconvenience, which happened in the middle of the tourist season. There were long lines in supermarkets to grab as many packs of water as possible, venues that had to close, and tourists fleeing. Last night the news came that even the last fault had been repaired and that within a few hours water would return to homes.
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Problems still in the higher areas of the city
“If some homes still lack water, the reason is due to technical problems, particularly related to the presence of air in the pipes, which occur in case of prolonged breaks – says a statement from Marche Multiservizi –. A problem that particularly affects the ‘higher’ areas of the city but the teams of Marche Multiservizi are working to resolve the issue. The water supply points remain active in Candelara (parking lot in front of the Church), at the School Campus (via Nanterre), in Piazzale Primo Maggio, in Muraglia (Piazza Alfieri), Piazzale Carducci and at Largo Ascoli Piceno. Low pressure and/or lack of water are being reported in other municipalities of the valley served by the main aqueduct, particularly at the moment in Montelabbate and Tavullia. A situation that in Cartoceto (higher areas) and Mombaroccio has lasted for two days and for which Marche Multiservizi has made water supply points available, paying particular attention to the needs of ‘sensitive users’. Marche Multiservizi thanks the citizens for their cooperation and understanding shown in a water emergency caused by a drought that unfortunately this summer has caused significant crises in several other areas of the country.”
Confcommercio: “Formal request for compensation”
We said that economic activities had threatened to request compensation and now they are doing so officially through the director of Confcommercio Marche Nord, Agnese Trufelli, who reveals on social media: “The economic categories announce the formal request for compensation for lost revenue and for the damage to image suffered by Pesaro businesses, betrayed by an essential service that proved inadequate. And I repeat, this is just the beginning.”
According to Trufelli, the water crisis “has exceeded the threshold level, turning into an unprecedented economic and image damage for the local productive fabric,” forcing many operators to close their businesses for the entire day. The director speaks on behalf of the companies represented by Confcommercio, Confesercenti, Confartigianato, Cna, Apa, Fipe, and Federalberghi and the Baia Merchants Association. “We are facing breakdowns and interruptions that occur cyclically over time,” she continues, and which would be the “direct responsibility of political choices postponed for too long” and a lack of maintenance that has made “the water network fragile and obsolete.” The business categories demand a detailed report of the works and investments made on the water network in recent decades and that every available resource be allocated to the urgent and structural repair of the provincial network.
Confartigianato: “A warning bell that cannot be ignored”
Confartigianato also attacks through the words of Giada De Simoni, head of the Pesaro area: “A warning bell that cannot be ignored,” says De Simoni recalling the difficulties faced by families, commercial activities, and tourism sector businesses, “with inevitable economic repercussions and damage to the city’s image.”
The trade association is engaged in assessing the damage suffered by businesses. “Companies – continues De Simoni – are already living in a complex economic situation and are called every day to bear costs and investments. We cannot also add the uncertainty related to the availability of essential services. Climate change and drought periods – she concludes – therefore impose on us a serious planning on the water resource, from network maintenance to loss reduction, up to the ability to face emergencies. If we do not decide today what to do, tomorrow we risk having to chase emergencies.”
