No water for up to three days: what you need to know if you live on the coast from Montesilvano down to Francavilla and the foothills!
22 comuni across the provinces of Pescara (16), Chieti (5) and Teramo (1), affecting around 275,000 people
If you live in or around Pescara, Chieti, or the Val Pescara, your water supply will be cut on Monday, 13 April. Here is everything you need to know, including the full list of affected comuni, what to buy before Sunday, and a critical safety note about when the water will be restored.
What is Happening and Why
ACA (the Azienda Comprensoriale Acquedottistica) is carrying out major planned maintenance on the Condotta Giardino. This is one of the most important pipelines in the regional water network, supplying the entire Val Pescara and a large stretch of the Adriatic coast.
To do the work safely, engineers need to drain the pipe completely. That means a full water cutoff for most of the system it feeds.
The works involve 12 simultaneous worksites and around 50 workers. Jobs include valve replacement, hydraulic separation of pipeline sections, reinforcement of critical sections, and inspection of supporting infrastructure. The national PNRR recovery fund is partially paying for the work.
The goal is to cut network water loss from 50% to 20% by 30 June 2026. It is a significant short-term disruption, in exchange for a much more reliable and efficient system from mid-year onward.
When Does it Start, and When Does it End
The cutoff begins at 6 am on Monday, 13 April, and runs until 6 am on Tuesday, 14 April, for a 24-hour window. Gradual restoration will begin across the network on the 14th. Full normal service is expected by Wednesday, 15 April, once ASL has completed safety checks on the water quality.
If bad weather prevents work on the 13th, everything shifts by one week. Follow ACA’s official channels for any updates.
Which Comuni are Affected
Total closure: Castiglione a Casauria, Torre de’ Passeri, Cepagatti, Silvi, Chieti, Rosciano, San Giovanni Teatino, Turrivalignani, Torrevecchia Teatina, Tocco da Casauria.
Partial closure: Alanno, Bolognano, Bussi sul Tirino, Casalincontrada, Città Sant’Angelo, Francavilla al Mare, Manoppello, Montesilvano, Pescara, Pianella, Scafa, Spoltore.
Schools, universities and public buildings: Schools at all levels, public and private, are closed on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 April across the affected comuni, by mayoral ordinance. The University of Chieti-Pescara (d’Annunzio) is also closed both days across all campuses. Municipal sports facilities, museums, and covered markets are also shut. If you have children or work near any of these, plan ahead.
What to Buy Before Sunday Evening
Plan for three days in case full restoration takes longer than expected. Here is what a household of four people needs.
- At least 40 litres of bottled drinking water. Allow 2 litres per person per day for drinking, plus 1 litre for cooking. Two 6-packs of 6×1.5L bottles cover this. Large 10L or 15L containers are easier to manage if your supermarket stocks them.
- Fill the bath before 6 am on Monday. A standard bath holds 150 to 200 litres, enough to flush the toilet several times a day for three days. Fill every large pot, bucket, and container you have at once.
- Baby wipes or wet wipes for quick hand and face washing.
- Hand sanitiser gel.
- Paper plates and cups to reduce washing up.
- Ready-to-eat or no-cook food: tinned fish, cured meat, bread, cheese, fruit, crackers, nuts. Avoid anything that needs boiling for now.
- A couple of spare 5L containers to collect water from ACA’s emergency tanker trucks, which will be stationed around the affected area. Check with your municipality for locations
.
When the Water Comes Back: a Critical Safety Note
Do not drink the water, cook with it, use it to wash food, or use it for oral hygiene until your municipality officially announces that ASL has cleared it as safe. The water may look normal, but it needs to be tested first. Watch for communications from your Comune and from ACA at aca.pescara.it. This is a formal public health requirement, not a suggestion.
Temporary cloudiness or discolouration is normal when pressure returns. Run your taps for a few minutes before using the water for anything other than flushing.
Where to get Official Updates
ACA’s official page for the works is at aca.pescara.it. Your municipality will also issue updates through its own channels. Follow the ACA and your Comune. Do not rely on social media rumours.
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a freelance SEO content creator and IGCSE Geography and English teacher at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She also runs the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, sharing stories and insights about this captivating region. Alongside raising a teenager, Sam hosts guests at her family’s traditional home, the Little House of the Firefly in Abruzzo, offering a warm welcome and insider tips on local culture, food, and hidden gems.
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