To promote increasingly responsible water use and optimize its management through monitoring activities, Politecnico is investing on various fronts to enhance this increasingly precious resource.
On the one hand, activities have been launched to comprehensively monitor water consumption at various scales, optimize management, and plan adaptation interventions to control water consumption and increase infrastructure resilience.
On the other hand, actions have been undertaken to increase the availability of public water supply points for the entire Politecnico community (and for anyone passing through its campuses), also to combat the use of plastic bottled water and the resulting energy consumption.
To promote its use, the University also recently participated in two projects:
In the 2021/2022 academic year, it participated in the "BeviMI, Acqua del Sindaco e consumi responsabili" project, coordinated by the Italian Committee for the Global Contract on Water (CICMA), co-financed by the Cariplo Foundation, supported by Coripet, and involving three other Milanese universities.
As part of the ASAP! – Sustainable Water at the Politecnico project (supported by the Cariplo Foundation's "Plastic Challenge 2019" call for proposals), four water dispensers were installed in buildings 11, 14, and 26 on the Città Studi Campus.
Special, taller taps suitable for filling water bottles were installed during 2024, while the installation of additional taps will continue in the coming years.
Public water supply points are currently distributed as follows:
Citta Studi Campus
16 water dispensers (attached to vending machines and food outlets)
18 water bottle taps in bathrooms
4 water bottle dispensers in common areas
2 VIVIPOLIMI project fountains
3 fountains in green spaces (Giuriati and park Ed. 26)
for a total of 43 public water supply points
Bovisa Campus
15 water dispensers (attached to vending machines and food outlets)
15 water bottle taps in bathrooms (being installed in November 2024)
1 water bottle tap in common areas
for a total of 31 public water supply points
Below is a map showing the distribution of water dispensers and water fountains across the two Milanese campuses.
Water quality is monitored through periodic sampling and analysis at various points along the University's internal water network, as defined by a self-monitoring plan. For drinking fountains, these samples are taken at the dispensing points. For this purpose, 180 sampling points have been identified, covering all University campuses.
What's the best way to maintain the hygiene of our water bottle?
As part of the BeviMI project, the handbook "Beviamo in Sicurezza l’Acqua del rubinetto. Vademecum sull’uso, manutenzione e igiene delle nostre borracce" was created by CICMA, the Italian National Institute of Health, and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome Campus).
Knowing the characteristics of the different materials water bottles are made of (plastic, steel, aluminum, glass) helps us use them correctly and ensure adequate levels of safety, hygiene, and quality.