Protection of the local region

Acea pays attention to the protection of the local region and the safeguarding of biodiversity. The main activities include, by way of example, the protection of the areas around the water sources and the modernisation of the electricity distribution networks, described in the following paragraphs.
Moreover, the protection of biodiversity is contemplated in the procedures of the Environmental Management Systems, in the context of the design and construction of plants, as well as in the management of the relevant areas. For example, in the design, construction and maintenance of overhead HV/MV and LV lines by Areti and in the protection of the basins of the hydroelectric power plants by Acea Produzione, particular attention is paid to the habitat of the birdlife and the ecosystem of the fish species living in surface watercourses. Finally, as required by the Authorisations of existing plants and every time an Integrated Environmental Authorisation is renewed for a plant, this is managed by protecting the flora and fauna and protecting the environment and the landscape in which it is situated.

With reference to a specific indicator on biodiversity, required by the GRI Standards and aimed at verifying the presence of species listed in the red list (IUCN) and in the national lists of protected species in the areas of operation, in 2018 Acea launched a specific analysis. In particular, a first part of the investigation concerned an assessment of the possible location of the main treatment plants of the Water companies included in the consolidated non-financial declaration – for a total of about 50 plants – within the following types of protected areas: Sites of Community Interest (SCIs),Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). A second phase will cover the identification of protected species, if present in the areas of activity, and possible interference.
The work begun is expected to be completed in the next two years.

Acea has been monitoring a great deal of information about a particular species for years. In fact, the Peregrine Falcon nests in the area of the Acqua Vergine springs. It is a protected species that, despite preferring open and wild areas to live and nest in, can choose to do so even in artificial constructions, like towers and bell towers, in heavily built-up territories. Every year a large community including scholars, ornithologists and simple enthusiasts follows the lives of the Peregrine Falcons who live among the Acqua Vergine springs, thanks to a webcam managed by Ornis italica, an association of researchers promoting the Birdcam.it project, which broadcasts images of a nest situated on Acea infrastructure (www.birdcam.it).

Birdcam

SPRINGS AND PROTECTED AREAS

Through the companies Acea Ato 2, Acea Ato 5 and Gesesa, the Group mainly uses springs located in uncontaminated areas for water supply. For example, Rome is one of the few metropolises in the world to be able to boast a water resource of such excellent quality at the origin that it hardly requires pre-treatment for purification.

The supply system of the entire area covered by Ato 2 - central Lazio is composed of seven large aqueduct systems that transport water derived from 14 main sources to the distribution networks and from numerous smaller local sources (mainly wells), for a total flow that exceeds 21,000 litres/second. The drinking water distribution network extends for 9,486 km. In addition to this priceless natural heritage, Lake Bracciano is a reserve to be used only in cases of emergency, after treatment. In 2018, Acea Ato 2 completed the preparation of a water purification plant for the Tiber that, once having obtained the necessary authorisations, will be ready to be used for emergencies and after purification with an advanced treatment and disinfection process.

The drinking water system of the land of Ato 5 Southern Lazio - Frosinone is constituted by installations and networks, of conveyance and distribution, which are in charge of 7 principal sources from which likewise water pipeline systems have their origin, for a total of 5,200 km; the drinking water system of the province of Benevento also boasts a plurality of sources from which originates the water network of about 170 km of pipelines and conveyance and about 1,540 km of network of distribution.

Protection and safeguarding of water resources are also facilitated by compliance with the provisions of Legislative Decree no. 152/2006, which, in Article 94, regulates the methods for protecting areas where there is surface water and groundwater intended for human consumption.
Tables nos. 44, 45 and 46 describe the location and surface areas in square metres of the areas subject to absolute protection 104 respectively in the province of Rome, in the province of Frosinone and in that of Benevento.

TABLE NO. 44 - THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES UNDER PROTECTION IN ATO 2 - CENTRAL LAZIO

 sensitive area   location  surface (m2) 
 Peschiera springs   municipality of Cittaducale (Rieti, Lazio)   375,322 
 Le Capore springs   municipality of Frasso and Casaprota (Rieti, Lazio)   997,848 
 Acqua Marcia spring   municipalities of Agosta-Arsoli-Marano Equo (Rome)   1,181,979 
 Acquoria spring   municipality of Tivoli (Rome)   17,724 
 Acqua Felice - Pantano spring   municipality of Zagarolo (Rome)   779,143 
 Pertuso springs   municipality of Trevi - Filettino (Lazio)   133,711 
 Doganella sources   municipality of Rocca Priora (Rome)   350,000 
 Acqua Vergine springs   municipality of Rome   500,000 
 Torre Angela wells   municipality of Rome   70,829 
 Finocchio wells   municipality of Rome   64,166 
 Lake of Bracciano   municipality of Rome   169,200 

TABLE NO. 45 - THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES UNDER PROTECTION IN ATO 5 - SOUTHERN LAZIO

 sensitive area   location  surface (m2)(*)  
 Posta Fibreno wells   municipality of Posta Fibreno (Frosinone)   20,000 
 Tufano wells  municipality of Anagni (Frosinone)   18,000 
 Capofiume spring   municipality of Collepardo (Frosinone)   10,000 
 Madonna di Canneto spring   municipality of Settefrati (Frosinone)   10,000 
 Forma d’Aquino wells   municipality of Castrocielo (Frosinone)   20,000 
 Carpello wells   municipality of Campoli Appennino (Frosinone)   15,000 
 Mola dei Frati wells   municipality of Frosinone   5,000 

(*) The surface area data is estimated.

TABLE NO. 46 - THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES UNDER PROTECTION IN THE PROVINCE OF BENEVENTO - ATO - CALORE IRPINO

 sensitive area   location  surface (m2
12 wells municipalities of Benevento, Telese Terme, Castelpagano, Vitu-lano, Melizzano, Sant’Agata de’ Goti, Cautano and Forchia 9,110
Ciesco spring  Castelpoto 307 
Faitillo and Orto dei Ciuffi spring  San Giorgio La Molara  2,412 
Gradola spring  Tocco Caudio 707 
Monticelli spring  Castelpagano 358 
Pietrafitta and Ruggiero spring  Torrecuso 2,242 
San Vito spring  Frasso Telesino  249 
Voneventa spring  Molinara 516 

For the monitoring of the territory where the springs are located, Acea has also been using “satellite observation” for some time.
Surveillance has been concentrated in the places in which there has been noted – on the basis of the comparison between two images taken from space at a distance of several months – an unjustified or in any event suspect morphological variation, such as new, unsurveyed constructions, earth movements, small landfills. The staff of Acea Ato 2 have been invited to the identified site in order to ascertain the existence of real threats to the water resource, allowing a precise and effective defence action. Indeed, 246 suspect changes105 were found in 2018.

[105] The 246 anomalies were found up to August, as the last batch of images is currently being processed. For the missing period a further 6 points requiring attention can be estimated.

For the monitoring of the territory where the springs are located, Acea has also been using “satellite observation” for some time.
Surveillance has been concentrated in the places in which there has been noted – on the basis of the comparison between two images taken from space at a distance of several months – an unjustified or in any event suspect morphological variation, such as new, unsurveyed constructions, earth movements, small landfills. The staff of Acea Ato 2 have been invited to the identified site in order to ascertain the existence of real threats to the water resource, allowing a precise and effective defence action. Indeed, 246 suspect changes105 were found in 2018.
Satellite monitoring has been used mainly for the areas of East Rome and Southeast Rome, within which there are areas of protection for important water resources and related water systems. A new development in 2018 was the internalisation of the change detection process, which allowed areas of interest to be more precisely defined, making control faster and more efficient. The company’s objective for 2019 is to extend satellite monitoring to all the plants managed for about 1,600 km of aqueducts and an area of 3,000 km2.
Overhead infrastructure for the distribution of electricity (high and medium voltage) have potential impacts on birds.
For this reason Areti takes risk mitigation initiatives in collaboration with the competent authorities, making use of the best technological solutions to the problems that might be encountered in sensitive areas or areas of particular naturalistic value (see the Memorandum of Understanding for the rearrangement of the electricity network in the paragraph Energy distribution).

Sustainability innovators.The chellenge

“Sustainability Innovators” is an internal company contest launched in 2018 to collect and select innovative ideas (product or process) in the businesses of the Acea Group that involved a large number of employees.
The competing projects had to have innovative content: new solutions to specific problems or products, processes, services, more effective and efficient ways than those already existing and demonstrate how to produce tangible benefits in one or more of the three meanings of sustainability: economic, social, environmental.
Participation in the contest was not allowed on an individual basis but rather as a group, which encouraged the exchange of ideas and engagement among colleagues from different professional backgrounds. 14 teams consisting
of a total of 56 people participated, and in the end 18 projects were presented.

The Assessment Committee, composed of the Managing Director, the Directors of the Business Areas and a member representing the Acea Board of Directors selected three projects and rewarded the teams that proposed them during a specially organised event.
The winning projects concerned innovation applied to both production processes and customer relations. Each team won € 2,000 offered by the Acea Ethics and Sustainability Committee. The Social Prize was also awarded to the project receiving the most votes on the company’s Intranet.