Uncovering Illegal Water Withdrawals in Portugal: GNR Takes Action!

GNR Discovers Illegal Water Withdrawals

The National Republican Guard (GNR) announced on Friday that it has detected illegal water withdrawals and floating platforms at the Castelo de Bode reservoir in Figueiró dos Vinhos.

In a statement, the Leiria Territorial Command explained that the Nature and Environment Protection Service found unauthorized water withdrawals and platforms during an inspection in areas of the Castelo de Bode Reservoir Management Plan, specifically in the Casalinho Santana and Vale Bom locales.

According to the GNR, four unauthorized water withdrawals were identified, which lacked the necessary licensing from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), primarily intended for domestic use.
Additionally, two floating platforms for docking and accessing boats were also detected without any APA licensing.

Identification of Suspects

The GNR conducted operations between the 23rd and Thursday, identifying four suspects: three men and one woman aged between 50 and 60 years. Consequently, environmental violation reports were filed and sent to the Central Regional Water Administration, with fines ranging from €10,000 to €100,000.

A GNR source indicated that the illegal withdrawals were performed using pumps akin to those used for extracting water from domestic wells, with pipes directed for domestic and agricultural use.

Licensing Awareness

Despite the licensing process being neither difficult nor costly, the source noted that many individuals either remain unaware or prefer not to pursue it.

According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, which approves the review of the Castelo do Bode Reservoir Management Plan from 2003, this reservoir was established in 1951 with the construction of the dam of the same name, located at the terminal section of the Zêzere River.

At its inception, the reservoir was the largest national water reservoir and housed the largest water supply for human consumption, serving over two million residents in the Greater Lisbon area and surrounding municipalities.

The management plan encompasses the water body and its protective zone, integrating the municipalities of Abrantes, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Ferreira do Zêzere, Sardoal, Sertã, Tomar, and Vila de Rei, across the districts of Leiria, Santarém, and Castelo Branco.
This reservoir is a protected public water body.