Maria da Graça Carvalho believes the numbers are still very low. However, the minister recognises the need to invest in basic sanitation.
This year is “a record year” for beach closures, “but the numbers are very low”, the Minister of Environment and Energy pointed out yesterday, recognising that it is necessary to invest in improved basic sanitation infrastructures.
Speaking to journalists at Praia de São Pedro do Estoril, in the municipality of Cascais, Maria da Graça Carvalho pointed out that, as of yesterday, of the 642 beaches in the country, only two coastal and three river beaches were not recommended.
“These are specific cases that are immediately detected and resolved within 24 hours”, said the minister. In the recent case of the Algarve, where the beaches of Quarteira and Vilamoura were closed, she said this was due to “a breakdown in a pumping station”. “It was a very quick thing, and after 24 hours, bathing was recommended again”, recalled the minister, highlighting the “great monitoring effort” by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
“We know [beaches] aren’t recommended because someone is monitoring […]. There are a lot of people working so that people can come to the beach safely and with full the protection of public health”, she stressed.
However, the minister admitted that improvements should be made, particularly regarding online monitoring, so as not to delay the time between the analysis and the ban.
The minister stressed that “Portugal is one of the countries with the best water.” She pointed out that “it is the second best in terms of river beaches and the sixth for coastal beaches,” recognising the need to invest in sand injection and monitor water quality.
Maria da Graça Carvalho recalled that the last “major intervention” in the basic sanitation system occurred 30 years ago and, therefore, “there is a lot of equipment that needs to be improved”. “Unfortunately, in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), this was not considered,” she lamented.
“We have little European funding […], both for water and basic sanitation and also, in fact, for waste. There are three areas in which Portugal needs a lot of investment,” stated the minister, adding that the Government is “trying to find a solution.”
Modernising the sanitation system, namely recovering Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP), could involve “more innovative financing,” such as using the European Investment Bank.
“We are trying to obtain [the financing], and we will get it,” the minister assured.
