Investments to the tune of €14 million in the Algarve’s water supply and sanitation systems were recently announced by the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, Jorge Moreira da Silva, who visited the region on Monday. The aim is to improve infrastructures and prevent the risk of contamination in the region’s bathing areas.
The minister met with representatives from the Algarve’s Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) and regional companies Águas do Algarve (water supply) and Algar (wastewater treatment) to discuss projects currently taking place in the region, such as the redevelopment project for the Lagoa dos Salgados area in the Silves council.
According to a statement in the Ministry of Environment’s website, “in August various Algarve beaches were contaminated following wastewater discharges into the seawater which led to bathing bans, namely in the municipalities of Silves and Albufeira”.
Jorge Moreira da Silva said: “We were able to identify coordination issues involving all entities in charge, and with these investments we will hopefully be able to prevent a repeat of what happened during the last bathing season.”
Wastewater treatment plants (ETAR) are planned for the Companheira area in Portimão, representing an investment of €10.8 million, and for Vila do Bispo/Sagres, costing approximately €2.2 million. Public tenders for the works should be launched this year.
Jorge Moreira da Silva also announced that works to redevelop Lagoa dos Salgados, “an important birding area”, began in September in an investment totalling €1.2 million.
According to the ministry, these investments are only possible thanks to the recovery of €20 million worth of council debt by Águas do Algarve – this is one-third of the total debt owed by municipal câmaras (€60 million) to the water supply company.
Moreira da Silva also took part in the signing of an agreement between the Portuguese Environmental Agency, Águas do Algarve and Algar, which envisions the management of the Odeleite-Beliche hydraulic system. The ceremony was held at Faro’s CCDR headquarters.
The Odeleite-Beliche hydraulic system supplies approximately 450,000 people with water whilst also providing the Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo António, Tavira and Olhão municipalities with irrigation water.
