There is an urgent water leak.
PER-di-ta — stress the first syllable; 'er' is clear, not swallowed.
Use this in an emergency — when a pipe bursts or a serious leak develops. Urgente signals you need immediate help, not a scheduled appointment. Most Italian plumbers charge a supplemento urgenza (urgency surcharge) for emergency callouts.
Perdita d'acqua (water leak) emergencies require immediate action. First, shut off the main water supply (rubinetto generale or contatore dell'acqua). Then call an emergency plumber. Italian plumbers offering pronto intervento (emergency service) are available 24/7 but charge premium rates — often double or triple the normal rate outside business hours.
Ha rotto un tubo. L'acqua sta allagando il pavimento.
A pipe has burst. Water is flooding the floor.
Specific description of the emergency; helps the plumber arrive with the right materials.
Ho chiuso il rubinetto generale ma l'acqua continua a uscire.
I've closed the main valve but water keeps coming out.
Describes what you've already done; indicates where the problem might be.
Può venire subito? È un'emergenza.
Can you come immediately? It's an emergency.
Urgent request; subito (immediately) and emergenza signal the seriousness.
Italian apartment buildings share water systems — a burst pipe in one flat can flood those below and cause significant damage to other residents' property. Italian condominium insurance (polizza condominiale) covers water damage from shared pipes; individual apartment insurance (polizza danni casa) covers damage to personal property. Both should be in place in any Italian apartment.