Post-completion, the reservoir is expected to supply water to 20 municipalities in the Benevento area.
The project is being carried out through a joint venture (JV), with Ghella awarded two lots for the design and execution in October 2023. A launch event marked the start of construction, highlighted by the ceremonial activation of the tunnel boring machine, named Falanghina. The event was attended by Matteo Salvini, Italy’s infrastructure and transport minister and deputy prime minister.
The Campolattaro Dam is classified as one of seven national strategic interventions under Italy’s National Recovery and Resiliency Plan. Its goal is to establish a major reservoir in central Southern Italy, reviving a project initially conceived in the 1960s by the Cassa del Mezzogiorno for irrigation purposes. The earlier version of the project was halted and remained incomplete for decades.
When completed, the reservoir will serve as a crucial source of water, supplying 20 municipalities in Benevento and extending support to other aqueducts in Campania. The project has been designed in multiple phases to address both immediate and long-term infrastructure needs.
The first phase involves the construction of a diversion tunnel measuring approximately 7.5 kilometers in length and 5 meters in diameter. Alongside this, a water treatment plant capable of processing up to 3,000 liters per second will be established. The phase also includes the development of a 30,000 cubic meter storage tank and the installation of a hydroelectric facility to optimize resource use.
The second phase focuses on strengthening the water distribution network. It includes the construction of a drinking water pipeline, a feeder branch, and related infrastructure to extend the aqueduct system in Benevento. Approximately 110 kilometers of pipelines, with diameters between 400 millimeters and 1,800 millimeters, will be laid to ensure efficient transport and supply.
Upon completion, the Campolattaro Dam is expected to provide drinking water for more than 2.5 million people, while also ensuring irrigation for about 15,000 hectares of farmland. This dual purpose underscores the project’s significance for both community needs and agricultural sustainability.
In addition to the dam project, Ghella continues to expand its role in large-scale infrastructure works. In June 2025, the company, in collaboration with the Eteria Consortium and C.M.B., secured a contract worth approximately €360 million ($414.6 million) for the extension of Milan’s M1 metro line. This further demonstrates Ghella’s expertise in delivering complex civil engineering projects that support national development priorities.
The Campolattaro Dam project highlights Italy’s ongoing investment in essential water infrastructure, combining modern engineering with long-term regional planning.
