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The present work provides an insight into the emergency preparedness and coping capacity of Italian water utilities, based on the results of two ongoing research projects. Specific attention is given to the role that Water Safety Plans (WSPs) may have in this framework. The results of an online survey completed with a wide sample of Italian water utilities have been integrated with the evidence from targeted in-depth interviews, with the aim of: (i) characterizing the state of implementation of WSPs in Italy; (ii) identifying the main challenges, barriers and opportunities; (iii) describing the key issues related to the interactions among different institutions. A critical summary of the main evidence was structured in the form of a SWOT analysis.

In the EU Drinking Water Directive (EU DWD) 2020/2184, the approach of the “water safety plan”, as suggested by the WHO, has been individuated as the correct tool for water utilities to ensure safe, drinkable water. The ADRIATIC-IONIAN Interreg project, MUHA—Multi-Hazard Framework for water related risks management, has become the necessity to effectively link different aspects of the water related risks management in an improved response system, integrating the functions of analysis, forecasting, and incident command systems. This paper aims to describe the rationale of the MUHA project and present some of the main outcomes.