Latest news and stories about costa da caparica in infrastructure in Setúbal, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
A repair intervention following the identification of a water supply pipe burst in Costa da Caparica will force a temporary interruption of the supply this Thursday, October 1st, starting at 2:00 PM, the Almada Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS) announced on Wednesday. The SMAS of Almada stated they will make every effort to minimize the impact and restore supply as quickly as possible, according to a note on the Almada City Council website. The municipality of Almada, in the Setúbal district, was in a state of alert from early July until the end of August due to successive water supply failures, particularly in Costa da Caparica, which led to several protests by the population. On September 9th, the Minister of Environment announced that the Government aims to have a solution for the water shortage on the South Bank within four months, drawing from the Castelo de Bode Dam and/or the Tagus River. Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that the technical solution will complement the use of groundwater and added that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Águas de Portugal (ÁdP) group have been tasked with presenting a project within 120 days. In response, Mayor Inês de Medeiros noted that the commitments made by the minister offer hope that this solution can be operational as soon as possible, emphasizing that it is intended to strengthen the system's security and resilience.
The agreement comes months after supply failures that affected the Costa da Caparica. EPAL will fund a study to diversify water sources in the municipality.
The problems with water supply cuts in Almada are impacting the hotel industry.
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.
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.
Since the beginning of the month, successive water supply failures have been reported in the Almada municipality, with a particular impact on the Costa da Caparica.
A new borehole to boost water supply in Almada begins operating this Sunday, July 12, reports CNN Portugal. The GW1 borehole runs on a generator and is expected to increase the municipality's water extraction capacity by 20%. On Friday, July 10, the Almada City Council and the SMAS announced that a borehole would be operational 'by the end of this week'. The activation was originally scheduled for the end of the month but was brought forward following the declaration of an alert state due to water shortages in Almada, a problem that began during a heatwave in Portugal about ten days ago. Residents in the most affected areas, such as the Costa da Caparica, held protests demanding a solution from the local government and calling for the resignation of the mayor, Inês de Medeiros. The Municipal Water Services of Almada (SMAS) attribute the issue to a significant increase in consumption. Until July 17, SMAS expects total supply cuts between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM in various areas. The SMAS warns that due to the size of the area, supply will be restored gradually, meaning water may return to taps at different times within the affected zones. If water shortages occur in areas not covered by this rotation, residents are advised to contact SMAS at 800 205 712 to report potential faults or leaks. The Minister admits that water supply in Almada should normalize within two to three weeks, and the Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the supply failures.
“Every year in the summer, we have water shortage problems,” but “it had never been this early, this continuous, and for so many days,” reports Ana Gaspar, a doctor who has lived in São João da Caparica since 2016. She lives in an apartment with her partner, their seven-year-old son, and a dog. And the last few days have not...
Several municipal sports facilities in Almada will have restricted access starting Saturday, July 11, due to an alert status caused by water supply failures in the municipality. The Almada City Council announced that municipal swimming pools in Caparica, Sobreda, and Charneca de Caparica will be closed to the public, while other sports complexes will prohibit the use of showers. The Minister of Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, stated that a new water borehole will be operational by the weekend, with full supply expected to normalize within two to three weeks.
In recent days, successive water failures have been reported in the Almada municipality, with a particular impact on Costa da Caparica. On Wednesday, the mayor declared an alert situation in the municipality.
The Ombudsman is investigating water supply shortages in Almada, Setúbal district, following complaints from local residents. Recent water outages, particularly in Costa da Caparica, led the Mayor, Inês de Medeiros, to declare a state of alert. Protests have occurred, and the consumer protection association DECO is calling for urgent measures, including compensation and fee exemptions for affected residents. The municipal water services (SMAS) have implemented a contingency plan, while the Minister of Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced that a new water borehole will be operational by the weekend, with full supply normalization expected within two to three weeks.
In recent days, successive water outages have been reported in the municipality of Almada, with a particular impact on the Costa da Caparica.
If there is water, Ana Cunha tries to fill as many large bottles as possible. She buys more bottled water, which not all neighbours can carry. And she guarantees that the cuts were also felt in 2025.
In recent days, successive water supply failures have been reported, with a particular impact on Costa da Caparica, leading to the activation of the Almada SMAS contingency plan on Monday and the creation of a crisis cabinet.
The normalisation of water distribution in Almada may take between two and three weeks. The information was provided by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, who visited the municipality this Thursday, July 9th. The minister met with the Mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros. The timeline is a result of a 'short-term' solution found to reinforce the supply by opening new water boreholes. One of these is expected to be operational by the end of the week, allowing for a 20% increase in supply capacity, revealed Maria da Graça Carvalho alongside the mayor. Meanwhile, a second borehole has been identified, for which a license has already been requested from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA). Both officials acknowledged that these measures do not definitively solve the problem, and further interventions to increase system resilience are planned. Mayor Inês de Medeiros rejected criticism regarding her lack of contact with the frustrated population and denied structural issues, attributing the difficulties to population growth and illegal connections to the network. The Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS) stated that high temperatures and a significant increase in the seasonal population have pushed water consumption to unsustainable levels. The municipality remains on alert, particularly in the Costa da Caparica area, where water shortages have sparked protests.
Water seems to be returning to the taps in Almada only in trickles. This is the case for this establishment in Costa da Caparica, which woke up to some “hope” this Thursday after “complicated” days. At home, the situation remains “unbearable”.
Costa da Caparica, like other areas in that Setúbal municipality, has been affected by successive interruptions in the water supply, which harm thousands of residents, merchants, and visitors.
Around 1,500 people gathered on Wednesday for a protest against water shortages in Costa de Caparica, demanding solutions to the problem and calling for the resignation of the Mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros. The population had initially called for a human chain, but the protest ended up taking the form of a march.
The population had initially called for a human chain, but the protest ended up taking the form of a march between the O Pescador Shopping Centre and the roundabout providing access to the IC21.
For days, thousands of people in Almada have been living with water cuts. Journalist Marina Ferreira explains the origin of this crisis and who is taking responsibility.
The regulator has requested explanations from municipal services. Residents of Costa da Caparica, Sobreda, and Capuchos have been facing outages for weeks. Protests are scheduled for the coming days.
The public water distribution system in the Almada municipality has suffered a critical failure due to an unprecedented spike in consumption over the last 48 hours. The situation severely affected Costa da Caparica, with supply outages lasting over 12 consecutive hours, also extending to the Charneca da Caparica, Feijó, and Laranjeiro areas. Local authorities attribute the collapse to a 'perfect storm' of extreme temperatures and the start of the bathing season, which led to a massive influx of tourists and pushed demand beyond the capacity of the municipality's reservoirs. To manage the crisis, the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS) have implemented a contingency plan involving rotating rationing to allow pressure levels to recover. Residents are urged to restrict water use to essentials, while local businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, report significant operational disruptions. Public frustration is growing on social media, with residents criticising the local council and SMAS for a lack of infrastructure preparedness and poor communication.
Costa da Caparica, Sobreda, and Capuchos are the most affected areas. SMAS admits consumption is exceeding catchment capacity and promises a new borehole by the end of July.
Meals at the Costa de Caparica Basic School No. 2 have been served in a container after the canteen was closed for safety reasons. The Almada City Council is preparing to launch the renovation project.
The Minister of Environment states that the investment in beach replenishment is not solely due to storms, explaining that this is the only solution to halt the advance of the sea and protect the Portuguese coast.
The Câmara Municipal de Almada has extended a state of alert due to ongoing landslide risks in the area, particularly along the cliffs of Costa da Caparica and Porto Brandão, following multiple landslides caused by recent adverse weather. The local government, in coordination with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory and the University of Lisbon, is actively monitoring the situation using satellite, drone, and ground measurements. Measures under consideration include daily inspections, potential evacuation of additional homes, and long-term stabilization solutions such as retaining walls and land stabilization. Currently, over 500 residents have been displaced, with some evacuated from affected neighborhoods. The authorities emphasize that the risk persists and continuous monitoring and preventive actions are essential to manage the threat of further landslides.
