Government invests €120 million in Algarve water efficiency

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, has announced an investment package of approximately €120 million for Quarteira, to be implemented by 2028, to improve water efficiency and modernise the Algarve's urban water system.

The projects covered by this initiative will be fully funded, 60% of the funding coming from the ALGARVE 2030 Regional Program and 40% being provided by the Environmental Fund (which amounts to €48 million).

This move comes after the penalties imposed on municipalities that had applied without having an integrated water management plan were lifted, a decision being justified by the fact that the region is still suffering from severe water shortages.

The scheme is intended to lower the level of losses in the public water supply networks from the present 20% to 15%; an initial payment of €3.7 million has already been made as part of the first instalment, which totals €12 million.

Infrastructure projects

In its progress report on the various infrastructure projects, the Minister stated that the construction work on the Algarve Seawater Desalination Plant is going on at the site and that the new public tender for the Pomarão water intake has now completed the phase in which proposals were submitted and is currently undergoing technical analysis.

As part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the projects concerning wastewater reuse and the interconnection between the western

(Barlavento) and eastern (Sotavento) parts of the Algarve have been finalised; the Government has requested the European Commission to approve the interconnection project without insisting on the final operational manoeuvre which would have required a temporary interruption of the public water supply during the summer. At the same time, the projects for the Foupana and Alportel dams are still in the study phase, with a minimum time frame of four years being expected before their completion.

At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and Energy is advancing a investment of 32 million euros—financed by the Sustainable 2030 programme—in order to protect and stabilise the Algarve coastline. This scheme includes measures in the municipalities of Albufeira (which is given the largest amount, 16 million euros, for sand replenishment and cliff stabilisation on an 8.5-kilometre section), Faro (5 million euros for the Ria Formosa and Ilha do Farol), Loulé (4.5 million euros for the Quarteira breakwaters), Portimão (3 million euros for Praia do Vau), and Lagos (1.5 million euros for the Pinhão, Dona Ana and Camilo beaches).

Furthermore, 5 million euros is reserved for biodiversity conservation, which is to begin in 2027 and will concentrate on the Ria Formosa, Costa Vicentina and Guadiana areas, while financial support for the Iberian lynx breeding programme continues.