Breakthrough for Stainless Steel Service Lines in Italy as Utilities Tackle Water Leakage

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04/12/2025

Type 316 stainless steel flexible service lines-already proven in major Asian cities-are now gaining momentum in Italy as a durable, safe and sustainable solution to reduce water loss.

In recent years, several Italian water utilities, supported by Team Stainless, have initiated programs to replace traditional service connections with Type 316 stainless steel alternatives to reduce water leakage. Installations carried out in Brescia, Ancona and Belluno are expected to reach around 700 by the end of the year, marking an important milestone in Italy's adoption of this technology.

In Brescia, A2A has installed more than 100 stainless steel service connections, including the complete replacement of all connections along approximately 1 km of water mains in a residential area with a high leakage rate. This marks the first time in Italy that an entire street's service lines have been replaced in one program, building on earlier single-connection trials. A total of 106 service connections were installed using 280 meters of 40 mm partially corrugated stainless steel tube, with a further 30 replacements planned by year-end.

In Ancona, Vivaservizi has replaced 130 service connections along a single road and plans to replace a further 300 across Ancona and neighboring towns. The overall length of the affected network is approximately 15 km, with service connections making up around 15% of the total.

In Belluno, SIB has replaced 60 service connections and plans to replace another 60 in the coming weeks.

Dr Gaetano Ronchi, speaking on behalf of Team Stainless, said:

"Type 316 stainless steel flexible service lines are proving to be very effective in dramatically reducing water loss. They offer a durable, safe and sustainable solution that is easy to install. Team Stainless is pleased to continue collaborating with Italian water utilities to support the introduction of stainless steel service lines across multiple utilities to tackle water leakage. Reducing water loss isn't just about improving infrastructure; it is about sustainability, resilience, and safeguarding one of our planet's most precious resources."

Success in Asia demonstrates the potential

Proven success of stainless steel water service lines in Asia's largest cities:

• Tokyo cut its water leakage rate from 15.5% in 1979 to just 3.5% in 2021, following installation of stainless steel service lines.
• Leakage repair cases in Tokyo dropped by 88% following widespread installation of flexible stainless steel lines between 1979 and 2021.
• These improvements saved Tokyo an estimated US $3.5 billion from 1980 to 2018-and the city continues to save hundreds of millions annually.
• Taipei Water Department reduced water loss from 27% to 10.3% by 2024 with 66% of service lines replaced with stainless steel service lines.
• Stainless steel service lines contributed to a 40% savings in electricity used by the Taipei Water Department, which translated to 63 GWh reduction resulting in 31 kton CO2 emission avoided annually (2006 compared to 2024).
• Seoul reduced leakage so dramatically that it was able to close four of its 10 water treatment plants, cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Information for media

Further information on stainless steel service lines is available here.

Team Stainless is an informal alliance of the European Ferrous Recovery and Recycling Branch, Eurofer, the International Chromium Development Association, the International Molybdenum Association, the International Nickel Study Group, the Nickel Institute and the world stainless association. It supports the stainless steel industry by providing accurate, independent information on the properties and sustainability benefits of stainless steel.

General information for media

• IMOA's Annual Review offers more information on IMOA's work and achievements
• IMOA is a non profit trade association, representing the majority of the molybdenum industry worldwide. It works to raise awareness about the unique properties of molybdenum, its beneficial effects on materials performance, its safety in use and its contribution to sustainable development.
• Molybdenum is added to alloy steels to improve strength, toughness, hardenability and weldability for numerous applications in the automotive, shipbuilding, construction, mining, chemical, oil & gas and energy generation industries. In stainless steels and superalloys, it improves corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance and finds uses in many industrial applications. It is also used in a variety of products from catalysts and lubricants to pigments and paint.
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