The Italian government has failed to improve the quality of its drinking water, leaving people exposed to health risks from high levels of arsenic and fluoride. The Commission notes that the drinking water of Italy does not comply with European Union standards despite more that nine years of scrutiny. The Lazio region around the capital Rome is facing a particularly pressing problem.

“Water contamination from arsenic or fluoride is a long-standing problem in Italy,” said the Commission through a statement.

In February, local authorities in Rome, whose fountains fed by ancient aqueducts attract thousands of tourists, imposed a temporary ban on drinking water from the public network in some parts of the city.

Arsenic is tasteless and odorless, and can enter drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth. The elevated levels in water can cause skin damage, circulatory problems, and an increased risk of cancer.

According to European Commission “The Drinking Water Directive allows for a total of three derogations, each limited to three years. Member States may derogate twice and, in exceptional cases, they may apply to the Commission for a third derogation. Italy has now derogated three times, and no further derogations are possible.”