Portugal - Water Management

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Central

Central authorities:

  • manage freshwater and coastal zones (as well as marine waters),
  • prepare and approve FRMPs and RBMPs,
  • implement water management in river basins via River Basin District Administrations (which are bodies of the Portuguese Environment Agency at regional level),
  • supervise the quality of both drinking water and waste water services,
  • regulate waste water treatment, discharge control and protection of water resources, by setting environmental standards, and the licensing/control.

 

Regional

Regional authorities:

  • advise and offer technical assistance during the development of RBMPs.

 

The autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira have additional powers, including:

  • prepare and approve RBMPs and FRMPs,
  • responsibility for water supply (Azores).

 

Local

Municipalities:

  • contribute to the drafting of the FRMPs and RBMPs,
  • take responsibility for water supply and sewerage, including via municipally owned companies and multi-municipal systems,
  • take responsibility for storm water drainage.

 

Multi-municipal systems, jointly owned by Águas de Portugal (a national holding company) and the municipalities in their areas, are responsible for:

  • the abstraction, treatment and main regional distribution systems of drinking water,
  • regional sewerage and waste water treatment.

 

Responsible ministries/bodies

Central

Regional

  • River Basin District Councils (multi-stakeholder forums)

Local

  • Municipalities

Sources

 


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