Latest news and stories about water supply in environment in Portugal for expats and residents.
The consumer protection association DECO criticizes the water tariff in Almada, citing a double penalty for residents amidst a crisis that ERSAR identifies as a significant management failure.
Water reserves in the Almada municipality have reached 40%, prompting the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services to evaluate potential reductions in ongoing supply cuts that have affected areas like Costa da Caparica.
Approximately 1,500 residents in Costa da Caparica, Almada, staged a protest march to demand immediate action regarding persistent water supply failures that have left households without water for days during extreme heat.
Water supply is gradually returning to six areas in Almada following a burst pipe repair, though the municipality continues to face systemic shortages due to record-high consumption levels.
Portugal has 172 public fountains that serve as the only form of public water supply. New legislation on drinking water tightens regulations and imposes strict deadlines on entities.
The possibility of the new Lisbon airport proceeding near the largest aquifer in the Iberian Peninsula is alarming environmentalists, who are calling for rigorous studies. Quercus warns of risks to the water supply in the Setúbal region and requests strict scrutiny of the project's environmental impacts.
Portugal maintains high levels of water quality and access to supply, but a lack of investment in infrastructure renewal is creating growing risks to service reliability, with over 26% of the precious potable water resource still being lost in the network. In an interview with Expresso, the president of the Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR) says the supply crisis in Almada should serve as a warning to municipalities and advocates for greater cooperation between local authorities, strengthening network efficiency, and an urgent commitment to modernising the sector's systems.
The Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS) in Almada have detected multiple locations experiencing major water leakage.
The new president of Águas de Portugal warns that the case in Almada is not unique. There are other municipalities where a lack of investment in the network could jeopardise public supply.
Macário Correia, president of AdP Aqua, has a list of nearly 300 measures to ensure water supply across the country after 2030. He warns that he will not complete them all, but has already defined priorities.
A borehole has entered operation ahead of schedule to respond to the state of alert in Almada. Four more are in preparation, including one in Seixal, which has already been awarded but is missing one authorisation.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, argued today in Gouveia that the Girabolhos dam, to be built on the Mondego River, is an “essential and strategic” infrastructure for the country.
More than half of the twelve water reservoirs that supply the municipality of Almada still show levels below normal, reveals a chart made available online today by the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS).
A former executive board member of the Almada SMAS, who is a member of the PSD, says that an alternative to the water supply must be created in Almada and other municipalities in Setúbal that rely on boreholes.
With an alert situation active and consumption restrictions in place, the SMAS report that there were no interruptions. Three boreholes in Seixal may soon reinforce the network by 20%.
A new borehole that began operating this Sunday represents a 20% recovery in water levels in the municipality. The situation was reportedly stabilised overnight, but it has not yet returned to normal.
The Revolutionary Guard's decision comes after Washington retaliated against the Iranian attack on a civilian vessel. Tehran demands the US leave the Gulf and the Secretary of Defense guarantees that Iran will pay.
The start of operations for a new water extraction borehole was scheduled for the end of the month, but it has been accelerated and will now begin this Sunday. It could increase capacity by 20%.
The President of the Portuguese Environment Agency, José Pimenta Machado, states that water reservoirs in Almada are recovering their levels.
The European Commission is calling for higher water prices in Portugal and has raised concerns regarding the efficiency of water management by local municipalities.
The true state of the aquifer is unknown. Supply failures expose the weaknesses of a system under pressure due to increased consumption in a region where gradual ground subsidence is occurring, associated with sediment compaction when groundwater extraction is not offset by natural recharge.
The Minister of Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, met this Thursday with the Mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros, and assured journalists that the situation is receiving close supervision from both the local council and the Government.
The Minister of Environment stated that Almada has failed to make necessary investments in its water supply system, urging the municipality to apply for available funds to modernise infrastructure and reduce water loss. Maria da Graça Carvalho noted that while funding is available through the Sustainable 2030 programme, the local authority must submit proposals to access it, adding that the municipality has sufficient revenue from water billing to invest even without EU support.
“We already have a new borehole in operation, and we will have another one this year that will greatly help to resolve the issue. Therefore, we are setting July as the forecast date,” says a councillor from Almada City Council.
The flames have been burning since early Thursday morning and have already spread to three other municipalities. Additionally, in Almada, a burst pipe that cut off the water supply has been repaired.
The affected areas are Monte da Caparica, Lazarim, Palhais, Alto do Índio, Vale Flores, and Costa da Caparica. Additionally, the number of districts under a red warning from the IPMA due to heat has increased.
Home News Construction of the Algarve desalination plant confirmed – works are set to begin Construction of the Algarve desalination plant confirmed – works are set to begin Construction of the Algarve desalination plant in Albufeira is set to begin next week and is expected to be completed in 20
Águas do Algarve, the state entity responsible for the region’s water supply and sanitation system, has announced the green light received by APA (the state-funded environment agency) for construction of The post Works on Albufeira’s desalination plant “to start next week” appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Construction of the Algarve desalination plant begins next week. The station will transform saltwater into freshwater to ensure a new source of drinking water for the south of the country, a region particularly vulnerable to drought.
