Water infrastructure, renewable energy and circular economy projects are becoming increasingly central to the long-term strategies of Italian public utilities. Against this backdrop, Gruppo CAP has approved the update of its Industrial and Sustainability Plan through 2037, outlining investments exceeding €1 billion to strengthen water security, climate resilience and digital innovation across the Milan metropolitan area.
The plan confirms one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes currently underway in Italy’s integrated water service sector, at a time when utilities are facing stricter European regulations on wastewater treatment, cyber security and emerging micro-pollutants. Shareholders also renewed the company’s governance, appointing Yuri Santagostino as chairman and chief executive officer.
Water networks and wastewater treatment at the centre of the strategy
The updated 2026–2033 investment programme is valued at €925.4 million, an increase of €57.3 million compared with the previous plan. The extension of the public concession until 2037 will unlock an additional €370 million in investments by 2033, bringing the total planned expenditure above €1.065 billion over the next decade. A further €365 million is expected between 2034 and 2037.
A significant share of the funding will focus on tackling emerging contaminants and improving water treatment efficiency. Around €23.8 million has been allocated specifically to the management of micro-pollutants, while €8.5 million will support upgrades to wastewater treatment systems and €7.4 million will strengthen drinking water networks.
Several strategic projects for the Milan metropolitan region are also being accelerated. These include a €36 million intervention at the Cornaredo well station and the technological revamping of treatment plants in Peschiera Borromeo, Truccazzano, Parabiago and Pero, with total investments amounting to €47.9 million.
Climate adaptation measures represent another core pillar of the plan. Gruppo CAP will allocate approximately €83 million to reinforce sewer systems through retention basins and projects designed to reduce infiltration water, a growing issue during increasingly frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change.
According to the utility, customer satisfaction has reached 97.7%, while most technical quality indicators established by Italy’s energy and environmental regulator ARERA are currently positioned in the authority’s highest performance category, known as Class A.
Circular economy and artificial intelligence reshape utility services
The industrial strategy also reflects a broader transformation underway in Italy’s utility sector, where water management is becoming increasingly integrated with energy production and waste recovery systems.
Through its subsidiary CAP Evolution, the group aims to reach 21% self-produced electricity by 2026, increasing the energy autonomy of its facilities. Development also continues at the BioPiattaforma in Sesto San Giovanni, where the sludge treatment line is expected to be completed by 2027. Additional industrial expansion is progressing through ZeroC, Neutalia and ALA, with Neutalia alone planning investments worth €105 million.
One of the most innovative aspects of the plan concerns digital transformation. Gruppo CAP announced the consolidation of a technological hub focused on generative artificial intelligence, with applications ranging from real-time network monitoring to predictive maintenance and infrastructure management.
Digitalisation is viewed as a strategic lever to reduce operational inefficiencies and water losses, a critical issue in Italy where, according to ISTAT data, average water leakage rates still exceed 40% of the total volume introduced into distribution systems.
The company is also continuing several projects linked to Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including the “Sponge City” initiative for sustainable urban drainage. At the same time, the utility plans to electrify 26% of its corporate vehicle fleet.
Financially, the strategy is supported by solid 2025 results. Gruppo CAP reported revenues of €500.5 million, EBITDA of €142.2 million and net profits of €36.4 million, while shareholders’ equity rose to €984.5 million. The figures reinforce the utility’s capacity to finance long-term infrastructure expansion as Italy accelerates its ecological and technological transition.
Cover: photo by Envato