The Court of Auditors has launched an investigation into the rising costs of the Garda wastewater treatment plant, specifically to assess whether the surge in expenses might conceal a financial loss to the public treasury. The project, initially planned with dual collectors in Gavardo and Montichiari, was altered by the Ministry of the Environment, which opted for a single facility in Esenta di Lonato, intended to treat the municipal wastewater from the Brescia side of the lake. The local mayors had already filed a complaint with the Court of Auditors, seeking clarification on the bidding process and the increase in costs, which have risen from 120 million to over 200 million euros.
The investigation also focuses on the agreement signed in January 2022 between the Prefecture of Brescia and Acque Bresciane, which was supposed to manage the design directly. However, the mayors have reported that Acque Bresciane divided the work into two separate contracts, thereby increasing costs without adequate justification. Despite Acque Bresciane’s claims regarding inflation and electricity costs as reasons for the price hike, local representatives find these explanations insufficient given the magnitude of the expense increase.
