The Role of Water Utilities in Implementing Urban Nature-Based Solutions: An Italian Perspective

This study employed a comprehensive methodology to investigate the role of water utilities in the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) for water management such as Sustainable Drainage Systems. The methodological approach involved analyzing the Urban Nature Atlas database to evaluate European funding sources and stakeholders associated with NBSs for water management in Europe. Focusing on the Italian context, the study then conducted semi-structured interviews with Italian experts and mapped exemplary cases where Italian water utilities actively participated in NBS implementation efforts. The results provide insights into the factors hindering and driving NBS development by water utilities in Italy. Using an SWOT analysis, the study proposes five distinct roles that water utilities could potentially adopt to advance NBS. The article offers valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and water utility stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to secure financing for NBSs.