05 Jul Drought risk in the Tidone Valley: major water-saving project planned to protect the environment
Work is about to begin on an important project, promoted by the Consorzio di Bonifica di Piacenza, aimed at the sustainable management of water resources in the Val Tidone, within the Piacenza area between Borgonovo Val Tidone and Gragnano Trebbiense.
The project, which involves the left and right banks of the Tidone River, is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) under the M2C4 component ‘Protection of the territory and water resources’.
The Consorzio Stabile Grifone, winner of the public tender, and its territory associate GM Tecnorappresentanze Srl, proposed FITT Bluforce PVC-A (PVC-HI)* pipes as an improved solution compared to the PVC-U in the tender.
Objectives
The project aims to combat drought and to adapt the adduction system to ensure a more efficient use of water resources, in accordance with the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle, which stipulates that project interventions should not cause any significant damage to the environment.
The initiative involves the replacement of old asbestos cement pipes with over 14,000 meters of FITT Bluforce DN 630 PN10 PVC-A (PVC-HI)* piping, distributed as follows: 2,146 meters to replace the existing asbestos cement pipes and 12,382 meters to bury the open-air irrigation canals, significantly improving the efficiency of the water distribution system
Community and territory: the tangible benefits
The expected benefits of the intervention are multiple and significant for the local community:
- Regulatory compliance and safety: The replacement of old asbestos cement pipes with new PVC-A (PVC-HI)* pipes eliminates the use of hazardous materials, reducing public health risks and simplifying maintenance operations.
- Continuity of irrigation service: The new infrastructure will ensure greater reliability of service, reducing interruptions caused by frequent breaks in the old pipes.
- Water saving: Burying the Tavernago -Tuna canal with pressure pipes will reduce water losses, currently estimated at 48% of the input resource, thus contributing to a more sustainable use of water resources.
FITT Bluforce: the benefits of the first EPD-certified A-PVC (PVC-HI) pipe ®
The FITT Bluforce PVC-A (PVC-HI)* pipes, proposed by the Consorzio Stabile Grifone as an improvement on the PVC-U based on the tender, represent a significant improvement in terms of quality and performance.
By virtue of their ductility and flexibility, FITT Bluforce PVC-A (PVC-HI)* pipes considerably simplify installation and maintenance operations, reducing costs and time and, at the same time, reducing weak points and therefore the risk of leaks.
Thanks to a strong resistance to crack propagation and a consequent absence of brittle cracks, PVC-A (PVC-HI)* pipes significantly extend the product life cycle.
In Europe, FITT Bluforce is the first PVC-A product platform to boast the EPD® (Environmental Product Declaration) label that provides certified product life cycle data according to the international standards ISO 14025 and EN 15804:2012+A2:2019. EPD® is a voluntary certification scheme, originated in Sweden but with international standing, that provides a means of communicating objective, comparable and credible information about the environmental performance of products and services.
Sustainability as a common thread
The Consorzio Stabile Grifone and the FITT Group have consciously chosen to focus on the future and on their responsibility towards the next generations, and for this reason they have placed sustainability at the heart of their corporate strategies.
The Consorzio Stabile Grifone has been certified since 2020 according to ISO:14001, proving the company’s commitment to reducing the impact of its activities on the environment.
The FITT Group, with the vision of being a sustainable company and in order to create value for people and the environment, changed its corporate purpose and became a Benefit Company in 2021, including in its articles of association, in addition to the aim of pursuing profit, the public and official commitment to have a positive impact on society and the biosphere, operating in a responsible, sustainable and transparent manner.
On the part of the Consorzio Stabile Grifone and FITT there is a strong awareness and assumption of responsibility for its impact as a company and a community of people.
A responsible choice towards future generations
The intervention represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient management of water resources, while contributing to the resilience of local agro-ecosystems. FITT Spa and Consorzio Stabile Grifone will continue to work with commitment and dedication to ensure the success of this project, with the aim of leaving a positive legacy for future generations.
(*) At a regulatory level it is defined as a polymeric alloy of Poly Vinyl Chloride with high impact resistance PVC-HI (such as PVC-M, PVC-A, PVC-CPE). PVC-HI (PVC-M, PVC-A, PVC-CPE) is a thermoplastic material that contains PVC resin with the addition of an impact modifier (PVC-High Impact). Depending on the type of impact modifier, the acronym HI can be replaced with various designations (PVC-A, Acrylic or PVC-A Alloy (polymer alloy); PVC-CPE, Chlorinated Polyethylene; PVC-M, Modified).
