Mining, textiles, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics, ceramics and cement, paper and metallurgy : these are the sectors that consume the most water in Sardinia, at a delicate time when drought is beginning to worry businesses and citizens. Water scarcity could impact the operations of over 6,000 businesses , employing more than 20,000 workers , and a large portion of the regional production system. The analysis, conducted by the Research Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna on " Water-Demanding Businesses on the Island ," examined the scope of manufacturing and personal services activities, based on Istat's 2024 Water Use Intensity indicator. A total of 2,137 businesses were identified throughout the region, including 1,493 artisan businesses, operating in the 10 "water-intensive" manufacturing sectors that consume nearly 36.3% of the island's water resources.
The top 10 industries with the highest water use intensity are – as mentioned – mining, with 21.7 liters used per euro of production sold, followed by textiles (20.9 liters per euro), petrochemicals (17.5 liters per euro), pharmaceuticals (14.1 liters per euro), rubber and plastics (12.4 liters per euro), glass, ceramics , cement , etc. (11.2 liters per euro), paper (10.1 liters per euro), and metal products (7.4 liters per euro). These industries employ 11,904 people, including 3,998 artisans. Added to these activities are personal services (laundries, hairdressers, beauticians, etc.), which consume more water for business purposes than a single family. Another 4,000 businesses with 8,500 employees operate within this sector.
According to Confartigianato's analysis, Sardinia is the fourth most water-wasting region : 129 million cubic meters of water are released into the network every day (about 424 per capita), and 224 million cubic meters are lost per capita, equivalent to 52.8%, compared to the national average of 42.4%. The , with 65.5% of losses, followed by Abruzzo with 62.5%. The best performer is Emilia-Romagna, with only 29.7% of water lost. Among Sardinian capitals, (11th place nationally), followed by Oristano with 60.4% (14th), Nuoro with 55.1% (19th), and Cagliari with 53.5% (25th). The most virtuous Sardinian city is Carbonia with only 21.7% of waste (90th out of 109).
