Portuguese Environment Minister holds municipality and water authority responsible for water crisis

The Portuguese Environment Minister pointed to the local municipality administration and the Water and Wastewater Services (SMAS) as those responsible for the ongoing water crisis. The Minister highlighted the inadequacy of investments in the water distribution network as the main cause of the crisis.

The lack of maintenance and insufficient investments in the current water infrastructure lead to significant water losses within the system. The lost water causes both the waste of existing water resources and water shortages for the local population.

The Minister's statements highlight the calls for an urgent increase in infrastructure investments and the implementation of more effective measures in water management. This shifting of responsibility among officials has brought concrete steps to solve the water crisis onto the agenda.