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Central

The central government is responsible for:

• national water legislation, including acts to transpose and implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Floods Directive and other EU water legislation,
• coordination of the implementation of the WFD, Floods Directive and other EU water legislation,
• development of methods for setting water tariffs and overseeing tariffs in place.

Regional

Regional authorities and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano/Bozen:

• are represented on the board (Conferenza istituzionale permanente) of the river basin district (RBD) authorities of RBDs spanning more than one region,
• prepare regional Water Protection Plans (Piani di tutela delle acque) to support and implement RBMPs,
• undertake monitoring of groundwater and surface water,
• enforce water legislation,
• contribute to the RBMPs (prepared by the RBD authorities),
• lead the preparation of FRMPs for Units of Management managed at regional level (often under the coordination of RBD authorities),
• contribute to the preparation of FRMPs for interregional Units of Management (UoMs),
• implement RBMP and FRMP measures at regional level,
• identify and oversee water service areas (Ambiti territoriali omogenei), whose agencies in turn oversee water service companies and approve their tariffs.

Local

Provinces

• Roles vary by region and are delegated by the regions.

Municipalities

• Ownership of water service companies that manage drinking water supply, sewerage and waste water treatment (ownership structures vary across the country), 
• Management of local water issues,
• Implementation of RBMP and FRMP measures at local level,
• Participate in river contracts (contratti di fiume) for local, participatory management of water bodies.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Central

• Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea
• Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)
• Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA) – supervises water services

Regional

• Regions

Local

• Local authorities

Sources

• European Commission, Second River Basin Management Plans - Member State: Italy
• European Commission, First Flood Risk Management Plans - Member State: Italy
• EurEau
• Tavolo Nazionale dei Contratti di Fiume