The Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) today decided to increase the price of water for urban consumption in the Algarve by between 15 and 50%, a measure to be applied from the second consumption bracket onwards.
Increases in the various levels of consumption will be applied differently from March and result from an “instrument proposed” by the Water and Waste Services Regulatory Entity (ERSAR), the president of AMAL António Pina told journalists at the end of a meeting of that entity.
The president of the association that makes up the 16 Algarve municipalities detailed that the first tier will not have any increase, with a 15% increase being applied to the second tier, «that is, an increase equal to what is requested to save on consumption».
In the third, the increase is 30% and 50% in the fourth and final step.
A 15% increase will be applied to non-domestic consumption – hotels, commerce and industry.
According to António Pina, the measure decided by AMAL “is an additional awareness-raising instrument”, to penalize those who consume more water.
«Despite all the other forms of communication that have been used, urban consumption in the first month of this year continues to increase in relation to the same month of the previous year», he pointed out.
The mayor of Olhão also lamented that people are still "not aware of and contributing" to reducing water consumption, at a time when everyone's effort is needed to face water scarcity in the Algarve.
«Of course, not all [municipalities] agree, because some already have higher levels of efficiency», noted the mayor.
However, he added, everyone realized that given this inability to save water, “it is indeed necessary to shock in some way”.
«This is one of the instruments that are available, but others will come soon», he warned.
Just yesterday, in the Algarve, the awareness campaign to reduce water consumption, promoted by Águas do Algarve, Portuguese Environment Agency, CCDR Algarve, AMAL and Algarve Tourism Region, in partnership with all Municipalities in the region and the Water and Waste Services Regulatory Entity.
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