Daily Life: Public services news in Almada, Setúbal, Portugal

The Municipalized Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) of Almada have increased inspections to promote responsible water consumption. Recent efforts have successfully identified several locations with significant water losses within the municipal network.

Water reserves in the Almada municipality have reached 40 percent, a level that the Municipalized Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) says may allow for a reduction in scheduled supply cuts. The area has faced significant water shortages throughout the month, impacting residents in locations such as Costa da Caparica. Meanwhile, separate repair work on a pipe in Queluz recently left residents without water for over 15 hours.

Update: Almada water reserves rise to 46 percent

New data from the SMAS indicates that water reserves have recovered to 46 percent, placing the municipality in a 'yellow' monitoring category. The agency has launched a new online dashboard to track reservoir levels and continues to conduct inspections to identify and repair significant water losses in the network.

The Almada Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) brought a new groundwater borehole into operation this Sunday. The infrastructure, which was completed ahead of schedule, increases production capacity by 60 m³/h to help mitigate recent supply constraints and consumption spikes.

Update: Minister Neves addresses contractor hiring controversy

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves has responded to public controversy regarding his hiring of a contractor for private work on his property. The contractor had previously held contracts with the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) during Neves's tenure as its director. Neves denied any irregularities but admitted he would have handled the situation differently today.

Cuts are scheduled for several areas of the municipality. Business owners are complaining about the losses and may proceed with claims for compensation.

The Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) of Almada have implemented nightly water supply cuts between 10 pm and 6 am to stabilize reservoir levels. The Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços de Águas e Resíduos or ERSAR) confirms that while water may appear whitish due to air in the pipes, it remains safe for human consumption.

Update: New borehole to boost Almada water supply

Almada authorities announced that a new borehole will begin operating this Sunday morning to help reinforce the local water supply. This addition aims to address ongoing shortages that have caused frequent service interruptions across the municipality.

The Almada City Council has declared an alert status following persistent water supply failures in the municipality. Mayor Inês de Medeiros announced measures including nightly water cuts and a ban on non-essential usage, such as garden irrigation and pool filling, to stabilize the system.

Update: Protests erupt in Almada over persistent water shortages

Around 1,500 residents protested in Costa da Caparica this Wednesday, blocking roads to demand an urgent solution to the ongoing supply crisis. The Municipalized Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) attributed the failures to extreme heat and seasonal population spikes, while the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) has blocked parliamentary hearings on the matter.

The Almada City Council has announced a ban on all non-essential water usage, including watering, to replenish reserves following persistent supply failures. Local officials hope to stabilize the situation within two to three weeks, though critics point to long-standing infrastructure neglect and high water loss rates in the municipality.

The Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços de Águas e Resíduos or ERSAR) has demanded explanations from Almada's municipal water services regarding ongoing supply shortages. A major pipe burst has left six areas without running water, exacerbating tensions that led to a petition signed by over 3,000 residents.

Update: Almada water supply restoration continues gradually

Water supply has begun to return to the affected areas following the repair of a burst main, though full normalization is expected to be gradual. The municipality reports that 2026 has seen the highest water consumption in 75 years, with a 4.3% increase in the first half of the year, further straining local reserves.