The Secretary of State for the Environment stated this Thursday, in Viana do Castelo, that the solution of transfers between basins for national water management is a “reckless and excessive” solution.
Questioned by Lusa at the end of her speech at the opening of a colloquium promoted by the Portuguese Water Distribution and Drainage Association (APDA), Emídio Sousa added that the issue of transfers “is a very delicate matter” that cannot be treated “lightly.”
“There has been a lot of talk about bringing water from the north to the south, about transfers. “I think this is a very delicate topic, because we are talking about investments and no one knows exactly what numbers we are talking about, and sometimes we talk about these things with a certain lightness and without the depth that a topic of this dimension deserves,” he stated.
The official, who was speaking about the regional meetings of the “Water that Unites” working group, created by the Government in July to develop a new national strategy for water management, The transfer of water between basins was considered “acceptable” if it is a short distance and in sporadic situations.
“Sometimes a connection is acceptable to supply sporadically, over a short distance. It can happen from Guadiana to Mira, it can happen in the Algarve, in short distances. The idea of transporting water from the Duero River to the Algarve seems imprudent and excessive to me,” he reinforced.
The Secretary of State stated that it is necessary to wait “calmly” for the conclusions of the study being prepared by the working group appointed by the Government so that the necessary measures can then be taken.”
On Tuesday, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries announced in Parliament that the “Water that Unites” initiative will be presented in January, which will build an interconnected water network for efficient distribution.
In his speech at the opening of the colloquium, where the study “Water and Sanitation in Portugal – Market and Prices 2024” was presented, developed by the APDA Specialized Commission on Legislation and Economy, Emídio Sousa warned that the sector should have more concerns for the losses than for the price of water.
“Water losses greater than 20% are a waste. The water that reaches our homes, channeled and purified, requires energy resources and a significant investment. If we lose that water in transportation or in the branches, we are wasting it,” he warned.
The Secretary of State for the Environment stated that the “optimal” option would be to drop water distribution systems with “losses of less than 15%.”
“We pay a lot of attention to the price, and well, because we all want to pay less, but the price could be even lower if more water were not lost. Losses must be paid. And who is this for? For the final consumer,” he reinforced, recalling that currently “there are already very good technical solutions to reduce losses.”
Source: Observadora
