Ordinances protect public water abstractions in four municipalities

The Government has approved, through seven ordinances published in the Diário da República, 1st series, no. 170, of September 2, 2026, the delimitation of protection perimeters for groundwater abstractions intended for public supply in the municipalities of Santiago do Cacém, Portalegre, Odemira, and Marinha Grande. The decrees, signed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel do Amaral Esteves, on August 21, 2026, aim to safeguard the quality of water for human consumption.

Ordinances no. 397 to 400/2026/1 and no. 402 and 403/2026/1 approve new delimitations, while Ordinance no. 401/2026/1 proceeds with the first amendment to Ordinance no. 13/2017, of January 9, regarding the abstractions in the municipality of Marinha Grande.

Legal Framework

The delimitation of the protection perimeters stems from Decree-Law no. 382/99, of September 22, in its current wording, which establishes the norms and criteria to protect the quality of groundwater intended for public supply. The perimeters aim to prevent, reduce, and control water pollution, enhance natural dilution and self-purification processes, and create warning and alert systems in situations of accidental pollution.

The proposals were presented by the Portuguese Environment Agency, I. P. (APA, I. P.), based on studies by the managing entities of each abstraction, and are further framed within the legal regime for the quality of water for human consumption provided for in Decree-Law no. 69/2023, of August 21.

Covered Abstractions

The new ordinances cover abstractions for small population clusters, mostly constituting an exception to the exclusivity of supply held by Águas Públicas do Alentejo, S. A. (AgdA):

• Borehole 4 (IC4) Aldeia do Cano — parish of Cercal do Alentejo, Santiago do Cacém; supplies 151 inhabitants (24.10 m³/day).
• Borehole 1 (JK1) Costa de Santo André — parish of Santo André, Santiago do Cacém.
• Well 1 (CMSC) Paiol — parish of Santiago do Cacém; supplies 40 inhabitants (0.72 m³/day).
• Borehole 1 (CP1) Vale das Éguas — parish of São Domingos e Vale de Água; supplies 157 inhabitants (16.25 m³/day).
• Rabaça — parish of Reguengo e São Julião, Portalegre; supplies 19 inhabitants (18 m³/day), managed by Águas do Vale do Tejo, S. A.
• F68-Moitinhas — parish of Sabóia, Odemira; supplies 10 inhabitants (3.15 m³/day), managed by the Odemira Municipal Council.

Protection Zones

Each ordinance defines the immediate protection zone, delimited by a polygon or circle, where any installation or activity is prohibited, except for those related to the conservation, maintenance, and improved operation of the abstraction. The covered land must be fenced and kept free of waste, products, or liquids that could cause the infiltration of undesirable substances.

In Marinha Grande, Ordinance no. 401/2026/1 updates the perimeters of the abstraction centers of Marinha Grande, Vieira, Picotos/Pinhal de Leiria, and Moita, replacing the deactivated abstraction “Furo RA 1” with the new “SL 7” and rectifying coordinates following the topographic survey of the Municipal Master Plan.

Impact

The new delimitations reinforce the protection of abstractions that serve small rural communities, ensuring the quality of water intended for human consumption and preventing contamination risks. The regulations enter into force on the day following their publication in the Diário da República.

Source: Diário da República, 1st series, no. 170, of September 2, 2026, Environment and Energy section (official reference: Ordinances no. 397 to 403/2026/1).