The Municipality of Mértola, welcomes the public position of the Minister of Environment and Energy on the taking of water in Pomarão and the desilting of the Guadiana River.
The Mértola City Council expresses its satisfaction with the recent decisions announced by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, in relation to water supply and the recovery of the banks of the Guadiana river in the municipality of Mértola.
The government, through Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho, requested the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) to draw up a plan for the regular public supply of drinking water to the parish of Espírito Santo, in Mértola, and to move forward with the recovery of the banks of the Guadiana between the town of Mértola and the town of Pomarão. This plan is crucial to solving the chronic water scarcity problems that affect the towns of Espírito Santo and Mesquita, especially during the summer, when populations are frequently supplied by tankers due to the large water deficits existing in this parish.
The installation of a surface water collection unit from the Guadiana River next to Pomarão, to reinforce the OdeleiteBeliche system in the Algarve, needs to safeguard these needs of the territory otherwise it will not make access to such an elementary need as water fair and equitable.
Besides, The rehabilitation of the banks of the Guadiana River between Mértola and Pomarão is essential to improve the river's navigability, which is currently harmed by progressive silting caused by excess sediment accumulated since the closure of the Alqueva floodgates in 2002 which prevents the natural riverbed from carrying out its natural regeneration.
These decisions are the direct result of a series of steps that the municipality has been carrying out with the competent authorities, with particular emphasis on a meeting held last week between Mrs.. Minister of Environment and Energy and the Mayor of Mértola, where the chronic problem of water scarcity and high water stress in the municipality was discussed.
Coordination with Águas Públicas do Alentejo (Owned) and other local entities will be essential to ensure that these measures have a positive impact on the lives of the population of Mértola.
“Mértola City Council thanks Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho, as well as Eng. Pimenta Machado from APA, for the commitment demonstrated and the quick action towards the well-being of the inhabitants of the municipality, highlighting that guaranteed access to drinking water is a fundamental right that needs to be safeguarded.”
