Municipalities in the Baixo Alentejo region have voiced strong opposition to a project aimed at supplying water to the Algarve from a new water intake on the Guadiana River in Pomarão, Mértola. They demand that the project also address local water needs, citing severe water scarcity and desertification risks in their region.

Key Takeaways

• Baixo Alentejo municipalities unanimously oppose the water supply project to the Algarve.
• The project involves a new water intake on the Guadiana River in Pomarão, Mértola.
• Local authorities demand that the project also serve the water needs of Baixo Alentejo residents.
• The region faces severe water scarcity and desertification risks.
• The project is part of the Algarve’s Regional Water Efficiency Plan and is supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

Opposition from Baixo Alentejo Municipalities

The municipalities of Baixo Alentejo have unanimously criticized the project to supply water to the Algarve from a new intake on the Guadiana River. This decision was made during a meeting of the Intermunicipal Council of the Baixo Alentejo Intermunicipal Community (CIMBAL), which includes 13 of the 14 municipalities in the Beja district, excluding Odemira.

In a document sent to the Lusa news agency, CIMBAL highlighted that the project, which involves an adductor pipeline to the Odeleite reservoir in Castro Marim, Faro, was open for public consultation until April 29. The proposal received negative feedback from the Mértola City Council and the Association of Municipalities for the Management of Public Water in Alentejo (AMGAP), among others.

Concerns Over Water Scarcity and Desertification

CIMBAL emphasized that Mértola is one of the regions most susceptible to desertification and faces severe water scarcity and high water stress, exacerbated by prolonged drought periods. Many localities in this municipality rely on underground water sources, and for extended periods, the only public water supply comes from frequent tanker transports.

The project, developed by the company Águas do Algarve, S.A., plans to create a surface water intake in the estuarine area of the Guadiana River near the village of Mesquita. CIMBAL argues that efforts should be made to address the water shortage in the Espírito Santo parish of Mértola, leveraging the Algarve water supply project.

Call for Inclusive Solutions

CIMBAL urges all stakeholders to seek conditions for public water supply to the Espírito Santo parish, either through the proposed project or other technically and financially viable solutions. The community’s stance will be communicated to various entities, including the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Portuguese Environment Agency, Águas do Algarve, Águas Públicas do Alentejo, and regional coordination and development commissions for Alentejo and Algarve.

Project Details and Environmental Impact

The Guadiana River water intake project in Pomarão, part of the Algarve’s Regional Water Efficiency Plan, is valued at approximately 61.5 million euros and is supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The investment aims to enhance the resilience and reliability of the Algarve’s urban water supply system in response to the expected and already felt impacts of climate change.

In addition to CIMBAL, the Mértola City Council, and AMGAP, the project faces opposition from environmental organizations such as Zero and the Sustainable Water Platform (PAS).

Broader Discussions and Future Plans

The Intermunicipal Council meeting also covered other significant topics, including the Portugal 2030 initiative and the presentation of the Baixo Alentejo Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) call for proposals for new-generation business infrastructure, benefiting the municipalities. Additionally, the RecolhaBio project was discussed, with the approval of a protocol with the Environmental Fund to support selective bio-waste collection projects in 2024, amounting to 387,667 euros for Baixo Alentejo municipalities.