New tank in Stabio: water for the Mendrisiotto

Context

In brief

• New water supply system inaugurated in Bella Cima
• Project cost approximately 4 million francs
• Total capacity of over 3,000 cubic meters
• Regional strategy for water security

Key facts

• What: New Bella Cima water reservoir
• When: Late summer, during a period marked by high temperatures
• Where: Stabio, Canton Ticino
• Who: Municipality of Stabio and Mendrisiotto Regional Aqueduct Consortium
• Amount: Approximately 4 million francs
• Capacity: Over 3,000 cubic meters divided into two new tanks

The new facility inaugurated in Bella Cima represents another piece in the deep reorganization of the water network in the region, while the completion of the long-awaited lake aqueduct also approaches. This inauguration comes at the end of a summer once again marked by high temperatures and a scarcity of precipitation. This is only an apparent coincidence: droughts and prolonged heatwaves are in fact making the issue of water supply security increasingly central. In Stabio, this journey began some time ago. In recent years, the Municipality has invested in the Santa Margherita abstraction well, the underground source from which the water distributed across the municipal territory is drawn. The objective, explained Mayor Simone Castelletti, is to look beyond the immediate needs of the individual municipality and build a system capable of guaranteeing greater security also at a regional level. The new Bella Cima reservoir moves precisely in this direction. The project, which cost around 4 million francs, will not only serve Stabio but is part of a broader supply security strategy for the entire Mendrisiotto region. There are two new tanks, with a total capacity of over 3,000 cubic meters of water. About half will represent the reserve necessary for the normal operation of the network, while the other half will be available to cope with emergencies. The water comes from the Santa Margherita well. As explained by Stefano Quarenghi, director of AMS - Azienda Comunale di Stabio, this is an underground water abstraction well located in the Stabio plain. The water is pumped simultaneously toward the municipal network and the reservoir; when the pumps are not running, gravity will allow the water accumulated in Bella Cima to reach the population.

The regional strategy

However, the significance of the project goes beyond municipal borders. Water knows no borders, recalled Marco Romano, president of the Consortium Delegation of the Mendrisiotto Regional Aqueduct Consortium, emphasizing how the strategy is now to connect the various sources available in the district.

Operational details

The decisive step for the territory will be the entry into operation of the Riva San Vitale pumping and water treatment plant, a project that has been discussed for about 50 years. According to Marco Romano, the station is expected to be delivered by the end of the year and become operational during 2027. From that moment on, the Mendrisiotto region will also be able to rely on lake water, guaranteeing municipalities greater complementarity of sources. Whenever a municipal resource experiences difficulties, lake water can step in to support the network; other municipalities that can no longer use their own sources will instead be able to fully benefit from lake supply. This infrastructural evolution is part of a geographical and climatic context that directly involves the entire cross-border area of Canton Ticino, where the management of natural resources and primary services requires a regional vision and targeted investments.

The management of water resources

Greater availability, however, does not mean letting our guard down regarding consumption. Mayor Simone Castelletti recalled that Stabio can count on the precious resource of the Santa Margherita well, but the very last few years have shown how necessary it is to use it carefully. Therefore, even with new reservoirs and new sources, the appeal to the population to avoid waste remains valid. Because water, as the mayor summarized, remains the blue gold of the territory. The planning and constant maintenance of distribution networks represent fundamental pillars to guarantee the continuity of essential services throughout the district, connecting traditional underground reserves with the future opportunities offered by lake abstraction.

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Key points

To deepen the economic impact and infrastructure conditions related to the territory of the Canton of Ticino and the border area, it is useful to carefully monitor the costs and management of primary services. The planning of local interventions is also reflected in the daily management of resources and the sustainability of the municipalities where many commuters live and work. The modernisation of the water networks, as demonstrated by the construction sites in Stabio and the progress of the works for the Riva San Vitale station, requires constant coordination between the various local authorities and consortia. To check all the economic and financial data related to your employment and residence in the region, it is advisable to consult the calculation tools available on the portal.

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Source: rsi.ch