Latest news and stories about water supply in daily life in Setúbal, 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.
Twenty-one locations in Almada, including Charneca da Caparica and Aroeira, will face a total water supply interruption from Monday night until Tuesday morning to facilitate infrastructure improvements supported by a new borehole connection from Seixal.
The Almada municipality has announced further night-time water supply cuts affecting ten areas to restore reserves, prompting concerns from local business owners regarding potential compensation claims and warnings from regulators about temporary water quality changes.
A new water extraction borehole in Almada will begin operations this Sunday, aiming to boost the municipal supply system's capacity by approximately 20%.
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.
On weekdays, the duration of interruptions will be reduced, generally taking place between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. At the same time, the gradual restoration of irrigation in some parks will begin.
The gradual recovery of reserves will allow for testing in order to reduce restrictions. Water cuts will no longer occur on weekends, and during the remaining days, cuts will take place from 1:00 am to 6:00 am.
In an initial phase, scheduled water supply cuts in the Almada municipality, in the Setúbal district, will no longer occur on weekends
Average water reserves in Almada have reached 78%, enabling authorities to begin a testing phase to gradually lift some extraordinary measures. Scheduled water supply cuts will no longer occur on weekends, and weekday interruptions will be reduced to the 01:00 to 06:00 window. The municipality is also beginning to restore irrigation in specific public parks after technical testing, while emphasizing that the situation remains under daily monitoring by the crisis cabinet.
In an initial phase, scheduled water supply cuts in the municipality will no longer occur on weekends.
The lack of water in Almada has awakened the country to the problem of poor management of this resource. Waste is significant and the management of supply networks is weak.
The problems with water supply cuts in Almada are impacting the hotel industry.
Water reserves in Almada have recovered to 46%, according to new data from the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS). The entity has launched a dashboard to monitor reservoir levels across the municipality. As of July 18, 2026, the 46% average falls into the 'yellow' category (30%-60%), prompting the local authority to evaluate potential reductions in water supply cuts. The data covers 13 local reservoirs. The municipality continues to urge responsible consumption, while the Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into recent supply failures. SMAS also confirmed a new water borehole has been completed following exceptional technical efforts.
Since the beginning of the month, successive failures in water supply have been reported, with a particular impact on the Costa da Caparica, leading the municipal council to declare a state of alert.
Average water reserves in the Almada municipality stood at 40% today, a level that allows for an assessment and potential reduction in the number of hours of supply cuts, according to the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS).
SMAS Almada calculates the average reserve based on seven reservoirs. Two new boreholes are already reinforcing the network with an additional 120 m³ of water per hour.
Since the beginning of the month, successive failures in the water supply have been reported in the Almada municipality, with a particular impact on the Costa da Caparica.
A new garden can delight. A municipal app can make things easier. But all of this becomes irrelevant when a basic expectation fails. Before delighting, one must deliver.
Fifteen locations in the Almada municipality will be without water supply today as part of a scheduled cut plan to restore reserves, with daily interruptions expected in different areas of the municipality until at least next Friday.
Almada City Council and SMAS announce the scheduled cuts until 24 July. All planned interruptions will occur between 10 pm and 6 am the following day.
Restoration of the supply will be carried out gradually
More than 20 locations in the Almada municipality will be without water today due to supply cuts being carried out to restore reserves, it was announced today.
Since the beginning of the month, successive failures in the water supply have been reported in Almada, with a particular impact on the Costa de Caparica, leading the municipal council to declare an alert situation.
In these locations, from 10:00 PM today until 6:00 AM on Friday, there will be a “total water cut”.
The announcement was made by the City Council and the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services, who guarantee that the “restoration of supply will be carried out gradually”
From 10:00 PM this Thursday until 6:00 AM on Friday, there will be a “total water cut” in Charneca da Caparica, Aroeira, Marisol, Fonte da Telha, Palhais, Lazarim, Botequim, Vila Nova da Caparica, Capuchos, Pilotos, Funchalinho, Vale Rosal, Vale Cavala, Quintinhas, Quinta de Santa Teresa, Trafaria, Raposeira, Corvina, Fonte Santa, Banática, and Porto Brandão. “The restoration...”
The municipality and the SMAS remind residents that the “total water cut” will take place between 10:00 PM this Wednesday and 6:00 AM on Thursday.
Pragal, Almada, Cacilhas, Ramalha, Cova da Piedade, Bairro da Cova da Piedade, and Centro Sul are the areas affected tonight.
