Portugal's government has prioritized sustainable water management in its legislative agenda, marking a significant shift towards addressing environmental concerns alongside agricultural ambitions. The latest updates reveal revised timelines for the Algarve desalination plant and the Pisão and Pomarão dams, projects previously excluded from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) due to delays.
Key Projects and Revised Timelines
- Algarve Desalination Plant: Now slated for completion by 2027, this project is critical for addressing the region's water scarcity.
- Pisão and Pomarão Dams: These strategic dams, essential for water storage and agricultural irrigation, are expected to be finalized by 2029.
Sustainable Water Management Strategy
The government's "Water that Unites" strategy aims to:
- Reduce water losses to below 100 liters per day per connection.
- Expand irrigated areas and rehabilitate underused agricultural perimeters.
- Promote precision agriculture to optimize water use.
Waste Management Overhaul
The TERRA Action Plan focuses on:
- Privatizing waste management to improve efficiency.
- Meeting EU recycling targets, with a goal of 60% by 2030.
- Addressing landfill overcapacity, a pressing issue given current waste disposal rates.
Environmental Challenges
Despite these initiatives, Portugal faces uphill battles in:
- Achieving recycling targets, with only 33% of urban waste recycled in 2022.
- Reducing atmospheric pollution, with limited mentions in the environmental strategy.
The Algarve will also see planning for the Alportel and Foupana dams and upgrades to water supply networks to curb losses.
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