The Water Research Institute (IRSA) was established in 1968 with the task of carrying out research in the areas of water resource management and protection and in the development of water purification and treatment methods and treatment (purification) of waste water (urban and industrial). Multidisciplinarity has been and is the main peculiarity and "strength" of the IRSA, in fact at the IRSA, engineers, chemists, geologists, biologists, physicists, etc. work together in the various research groups. 

The thematic research activities are developed in the CNR area through projects related to different Project Areas of the Department of Earth System Sciences and Technologies for the Environmentand inter-departmental initiatives. Furthermore, the institute is involved in European projects co-financed by the EC and other projects funded by Ministries (Environment, Health, Research, Economic Development) or other public institutions (Civil Protection, Basin Authorities, Regions, Provinces) and private institutions (Industries, Companies, SMEs)

Since its foundation, the Institute has been divided into three locations, one in the North: Brugherio (MB), one in the center: Montelibretti (Rome) and one in the South: Bari, which is responsible for research activities mainly focused on relevant topics respectively to pollution, water quality and effects on biological communities (Brugherio and Montelibretti sites), study of wastewater and sludge treatment mechanisms and processes and methods for the management and protection of water resources (Bari and Montelibretti sites). 

Since September 2018, two prestigious offices have been added to the Institute: Verbania (VB) and Taranto.