Thousands face fresh water shortages in Almada

Thousands of residents in the Greater Lisbon municipality of Almada were left without running water today after a major water main burst disrupted supplies across several neighbourhoods – adding to weeks of recurring outages that have sparked public protests and scrutiny from regulatory authority ERSAR.

The interruption follows what SMAS Almada – the municipal water utility company – described as a large rupture in a main water supply pipeline, affecting the areas of Monte de Caparica, Lazarim, Palhais, Alto do Índio, Vale Flores and Costa da Caparica.

SMAS said repair crews were working at the scene to restore service, but did not give any kind of estimate as to when the problem would be fixed.

Residents experiencing water cuts outside the officially affected areas have been asked to contact the utility’s emergency faults service.

SMAS has also owned up to two smaller incidents in Charneca da Caparica, one of which has already been repaired, while the second was expected to be resolved later today.

Weeks of water shortages

This latest disruption comes after weeks of complaints from residents across Almada (some claiming water has run out like this for multiple summers).

An online petition demanding urgent action has already attracted nearly 4,000 signatures, with anger centring on the lack of action by authorities.

Petition organisers say thousands of households and businesses have endured repeated cuts lasting several hours, often during the late afternoon and early evening when demand is highest.

They argue the interruptions have made everyday activities—including showering, cooking, washing clothes and maintaining basic hygiene—difficult, while also disrupting cafés, restaurants and other businesses dependent on a reliable water supply.

Reports on social media have also described water shortages and/ or reduced pressure in neighbourhoods including Laranjeiro and Feijó.

Making matters worse, social media pages show the municipality leaving irrigations systems running so that large puddles collect on road surfaces, while households struggle without supplies.

Regulator steps in

Portugal’s water services regulator, ERSAR, has stepped in, requesting explanations from SMAS following the surge in consumer complaints, and wider media coverage.

In a statement, ERSAR said it is monitoring the situation and has asked SMAS to clarify the circumstances behind the repeated disruptions, and explain what measures are being taken to protect consumers.

Heatwave blamed for soaring demand

Last week, SMAS said Almada was experiencing “a period of exceptional pressure” on its water supply network due to the ongoing heatwave and a sharp increase in the municipality’s seasonal population.

According to the company, water consumption has exceeded the amount that can be extracted daily from local boreholes.

To maintain supplies, SMAS introduced what it describes as a rotational and solidarity-based management system, designed to balance water pressure across the municipality and distribute available resources more evenly.

The strategy includes deliberately reducing water pressure throughout Almada between midnight and 6am each day to allow storage reservoirs to recover overnight.

SMAS also said it has stepped up inspections to identify and disconnect illegal water connections.

Protests planned

Public frustration however continues to grow – and appears to query a lot of SMAS’ explanations.

The civic group Movimento Futuro da Costa, which contested the last local elections, has called a protest outside SMAS headquarters for tomorrow morning.

Separately, campaigners are organising a silent human chain in Costa da Caparica on Wednesday (July 8) to demand a permanent solution to the area’s recurring water shortages.

According to Pordata, Almada’s population has risen to 202,896, an increase of almost 20,000 residents since the 2021 census, which will have placed additional pressure on local infrastructure during periods of peak demand.

Source material: noticiasaominuto/ LUSA