The Blantyre Water Board (BWB) is exploring international approaches to water quality management, wastewater reuse and climate resilience as it seeks to strengthen the sustainability and reliability of water services in Malawi’s commercial capital.
A seven-member delegation led by board chairperson Stanley Chirwa is in Italy for a technical and institutional study tour running from October 25 to 31, 2026, under the World Bank-financed Malawi Water and Sanitation Project-1 (MWSP-1).
Organised by Italian consultancy firm ambiente S.r.l., the programme exposes BWB officials to water treatment technologies, integrated resource management and operational systems used by Italian utilities, with lessons expected to inform improvements in Blantyre.
“Our objective is to learn from proven approaches to water quality management, infrastructure maintenance and sustainable water use, and identify practical measures that can be adapted to improve water service delivery in Blantyre,” Chirwa said.
The tour also supports BWB’s efforts to establish a Total Quality Management System (TQMS), which is intended to strengthen institutional processes and support the board’s pursuit of relevant international quality certification.
One area of interest is how water utilities can protect public health while managing resources efficiently and maintaining reliable supplies.
In Florence, the delegation is expected to visit Publiacqua, which provides integrated water services to approximately 1.3 million people across 46 municipalities.
Its Anconella Drinking Water Treatment Plant, which draws water from the Arno River and serves about 600,000 residents, uses clarification, filtration and disinfection processes to produce drinking water.
The visit is expected to provide practical insights into treatment operations, water quality testing and the monitoring systems needed to maintain consistent standards.
The delegation is also expected to examine wastewater treatment and reuse in Prato, where GIDA operates five treatment plants.
GIDA’s industrial aqueduct, which extends about 70 kilometres and supplies reclaimed water to the textile industry, offers an example of how treated wastewater can be reused productively rather than treated solely as waste.
Such approaches could provide lessons for water resource management as utilities seek to balance competing demands for water and improve the use of available supplies.
In Milan, the delegation is expected to visit Gruppo CAP and MM S.p.A. to study operational monitoring, infrastructure management and digital systems used in water service delivery.
Gruppo CAP manages 40 treatment plants and serves approximately 1.9 million drinking water customers and 2.4 million wastewater customers across the Metropolitan City of Milan.
A planned visit to its control room will expose the delegation to real-time monitoring and operational response systems that can help utilities identify problems and respond to critical incidents.
MM S.p.A. operates Milan’s integrated water service through infrastructure that includes 588 groundwater wells, 26 pumping stations and approximately 2,250 kilometres of water mains, serving about two million people.
Its operations offer lessons in maintaining extensive distribution networks, managing assets and planning infrastructure investments for long-term service continuity.
The programme also includes an engagement at the Salazzurra Research Centre to examine laboratory procedures, sampling, testing, traceability and compliance with water quality requirements.
These technical lessons are expected to support BWB’s efforts to strengthen quality assurance through improved documentation, internal audits and more systematic monitoring of operational performance.
Beyond treatment technologies, the study tour covers integrated water resource management and the need for utilities to prepare for climate-related risks, including droughts and floods. Energy efficiency and continuity of supply are also programme priorities.
The delegation includes officials responsible for project implementation, auditing, technical services, monitoring and evaluation, and planning and corporate management.
In Rome, the team engaged stakeholders from Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and ambiente S.r.l. in discussions on water governance and institutional arrangements.
The engagements are intended to help BWB identify practices that can be adapted to Malawi’s institutional and operational conditions
However, applying international approaches will require careful assessment of local costs, technical capacity, infrastructure needs and the resources available to implement new systems.
The study tour is scheduled to conclude on October 31, when the delegation will review the programme and consider potential areas for further cooperation.
Under the financial arrangements, ambiente S.r.l. is covering accommodation, meals and local transport in Italy, while BWB participants are responsible for international travel, visas and personal expenses.
The test for BWB will be whether the lessons translate into practical improvements in water quality assurance, infrastructure maintenance and the reliable, sustainable delivery of water services to Blantyre residents.
