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 Assembly is set to debate a motion of no confidence against the local socialist leadership next week, citing failures in managing water supplies, housing, and civil protection. Meanwhile, the municipality has announced new overnight water cuts to stabilize reserves, while the Minister of Environment, Graça Carvalho, has criticized the local council and the Municipalized Water and Sanitation Services (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) for years of insufficient investment.

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.

Residents in Almada are protesting against persistent water supply issues, leading to calls for the resignation of Mayor Inês de Medeiros. The Seixal municipality has accused Almada of failing to maintain its infrastructure, noting that a significant portion of the water supply is captured in Seixal, while the PS district structure has urged the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses or ANMP) to address the funding needed for network repairs.

The Almada municipality is facing water supply disruptions, with the Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho suggesting it could take three weeks to stabilize the system. While the mayor denies any area has been without water for more than 24 hours, the municipal water service (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento or SMAS) has announced further overnight service interruptions in several localities.

Update: Almada water crisis expected to last weeks

Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho confirmed that full water restoration will take two to three weeks, though a new borehole opening this weekend is expected to boost supply by 20%. Meanwhile, the consumer protection association DECO has demanded compensation for affected residents and businesses, calling for tariff exemptions and extended payment deadlines.

There are areas that will have no water between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The population is desperate. The collapse in supply threatens public health.

Update: Almada implements overnight water cuts

The Almada City Council has confirmed that six locations, including Feijó, Laranjeiro, Vale Flores, Barrocas, Cova da Piedade, and Chegadinho, will face total water cuts from 10:00 PM Friday to 6:00 AM Saturday. The municipality has declared a state of alert due to unprecedented consumption levels and will also close public swimming pools and restrict access to municipal spaces.

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.