Italy Launches Campolattaro Reservoir Project

Construction has officially commenced on the Campolattaro Dam in Benevento, Italy, following the launch of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) “Falanghina” on September 10, 2025. The project, originally conceived in the 1960s but left incomplete, is now part of Italy’s National Recovery and Resiliency Plan. Once finished, it will provide a new reservoir supplying drinking water to 20 municipalities in the Benevento area and additional aqueducts across Campania.

The first construction phase includes excavation of a diversion tunnel approximately 7.5 kilometers in length and 5 meters in diameter. Supporting infrastructure will consist of a water treatment facility with a capacity of 3,000 liters per second, a 30,000 cubic meter storage tank, and a hydroelectric plant. The second phase will extend water distribution through the installation of about 110 kilometers of pipelines ranging from 400 millimeters to 1,800 millimeters in diameter.

The project is expected to enhance water supply reliability for over 2.5 million residents and enable irrigation of 15,000 hectares of agricultural land. In addition to meeting essential water needs, the scheme integrates energy generation and represents one of seven nationally prioritized infrastructure programs.

The Campolattaro Dam is set to address both urban demand and agricultural requirements, creating resilience against drought conditions while reinforcing regional water autonomy. Its completion will mark the realization of a project first envisioned decades ago, ensuring strategic resource management for Central and Southern Italy.

Following is the initiation video of the Campolattaro dam Mega Project.