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Portuguese experience in regionalization and regulation of water and sanitation services Study Tour, October, 8-12, 2018 FINAL REPORT
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Table of contents
1. Objective of the Study Tour ...... 3 2. Summary of Portuguese sector evolution ...... 3 3. The Study Tour ...... 6 4. Contact List ...... 11 5. Further Information on visited institutions ...... 12
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1. Objective of the Study Tour
The objective of the study tour was to present lessons learned from the Portuguese experience in the regionalization and regulation of water and sanitation services and promote knowledge exchange in this topic among counterparts of Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Specifically, participants should have developed a better understanding of the following topics as applied to the Portuguese context:
• Institutional and legal framework to enable regulation • Coordination mechanisms among water sector institutions for effective regulation • Tariff setting methodology, ensuring full cost-recovery and transparency • Asset management considerations and licensing of water operators • Service delivery through different water and sanitation management models • Regulation of informal service providers • Affordability considerations, including subsidies, pro-poor tariffs, and other • Regulation of wastewater services, including on-site sanitation (septic tanks, latrine sludge management) • Setting minimum service standards and performance indicators • Utility benchmarking • Aggregation of water and wastewater utilities (how it came about, process, outcomes and lessons learned)
The company Defining Future Options’ supported the World Bank in organizing the study tour and coordinating with Portuguese counterparts to allow the representatives from Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro to explore the changes in the WSS sector in Portugal leading to its sustainable development.
2. Summary of Portuguese sector evolution
Considering the objective of the Study Tour, the visit was organized in order to present the development of the WSS sector in the past 25 years and its current status in five main perspectives:
• Legal developments • Regulatory developments • Organizational evolution • Technical approach • Financing of the WSS sector
Portugal was chosen as a case study because the evolution of its water and wastewater sector since 1993, provides many lessons learned in terms of structural reforms, regulation and aggregation of services in the context of EU accession, with experiences that are highly applicable to the countries that participated in the study tour. With the entry of Portugal into the EEC (1986), Portugal accessed to Community funding, under the structural policies, for building public
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infrastructure (particularly the ERDF -Regional Development Fund). The Environment sector, from the first time became one of the main recipients of these funds. However, until 1992 the EU funding to the water and wastewater sector were dispersed by the various municipalities, reducing their effectiveness.
The following figure shows the evolution of key indicators in Portugal since 1993:
The sustained progress in these key indicators were a result of a combination of structural reforms that were taken since 1993 which focused on four areas: • A change in the legal framework: Until 1993, municipalities were exclusively responsible for water and sanitation systems. In 1993, two concession models were created, public multi-municipal systems (100% public, 51% owned by the government and 49% by the municipalities) and private concessions through international public tenders. The purpose of the legal reform was to encourage a true water industry, professionalizing the sector, accelerating the rate of capital investment and accessing private investment. • Introduction of the multi-municipal system management model for bulk-water services: Creation of 100% public concessions from 20-50 years for large scale systems. Responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the systems for bulk services, including water treatment and supply to municipalities and wastewater collection and treatment. Municipalities were still responsible for the distribution networks to consumers. EU Cohesion funds play an important role by supporting capital investment up to 85%.
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• Fixing of tariffs for sustainability: Tariffs were fixed to include multi-municipal tariff (bulk service) and water distribution and sewerage collection tariff. The multi- municipal systems would practice full cost recovery assuring sustainability and efficient asset management. Municipalities are responsible to fix consumer’s tariffs and may subsidize service to practice lower tariffs although “full cost recovery” is encouraged. • Requirement of technical and economic solutions with strategic planning: Master Plans were developed to solve low performance in large urban areas. At a later stage, focus shifted to a “second generation” of multi-municipal systems servicing less populated areas. The advantages of this approach included a capacity to enlarge systems, introduce a high degree of automation and control procurement processes for careful selection of materials in terms of quality and price. In addition, national strategic plans needed to be developed and approved every seven years, concomitant with EU Funding under the Cohesion Funds and other programs. Again, important financial support was received from the European Union and the European Investment bank.
Since 1995, several water utility management models have been introduced, with municipalities being free to choose the model that would better suit their needs.
PUBLIC Municipal The most common model in Portugal for “retail” services. WSS Management P&L is merged within the municipal budget. Political driven decision-making.
Autonomous Model used mostly by large municipalities with skilled staff and Municipal WSS operational break even. Water distribution is delegated in Services (SMAS) an autonomous municipal service. This autonomous municipal
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services has its own P&L. Bank debt concurs for total municipal debt.
Municipal WSS company is created by one or more municipality(ies). Company (EM) Business Plan must prove sustainability. Bank debt concurs for total municipal debt. Also, this model is used mostly by large municipalities with skilled staff.
Multi-municipal Portuguese state through AdP (state owned operator) create concessions concessions by government act. Municipalities are minority or shareholders of the new concession. The concession has a fixed Public-public capital return rate and tariffs are reviewed every year in order partnerships to achieve the contracted IRR. Concessions used exclusively for “bulk” systems; Partnerships can be made to “retail” services.
PRIVATE Concessions Asset property remain public while water distribution (retail) management is delegated to a private company through a tender process. Concessions awarded for a period of 20 to 30 years.
Public-Private Similar to Municipal Companies, but private sector can hold up partnership to 49% of the Utility’s shares. Shareholder’s agreement may [Joint Ownership] delegate operation in the private partner.
From 1993 to 2015, Portugal has invested EUR 13 238 million euro for both water and sanitation capital investments. EU grants represented the main source of funding (EUR 6390 million), followed by the European Investment Bank (EUR 1900 million), PPPs (EUR 950 million) and Bonds or private placements (EUR 600 million). The presentations, study tour report and other material can be found at http://www.danube- water-program.org/pages/events/2018/wb-regulator-study-tour.php
3. The Study Tour The tour plan started with a presentation made by each of the four countries: Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. These presentations aimed to understand the water sector baseline of each country as well as its challenges and objectives.
As for the Portuguese water sector, the tour plan started with a macro view of the sector in the Ministry of Environment, followed by a presentation delivered by the National Regulator.
After having the “big picture”, more detailed and technical discussions were held in the Portuguese Water Partnership.
Then the tour “zoomed” its focus on the utilities: first a visit to the state-owned company, AdP- Águas de Portugal; secondly a visit to a regional utility, Águas do Ribatejo and; thirdly, a visit to a municipal utility, Serviços Municipalizados de Abrantes.
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The tour ended with a visit to the main Wastewater Treatment Plant of Lisbon. This WWTP has some innovative system of flood control and of wastewater reuse.
Individual countries presentations, Monday, October 8th
Presentation of individual countries to understand their water sector baseline, challenges and objectives
• Albania • Croatia • Macedonia • Montenegro
Ministry of Environment, Tuesday, October 9th
Carlos Martins, Secretary of State for the Environment and Simone Pio, Advisor of the SoS, debated with the Balkans delegation the challenges that Portugal is facing and respective solutions.
Diogo Faria de Oliveira, President of the Support Group of the National Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan (PENSAAR 2020) and Executive Director of Defining Future Options, presented the Portuguese Water Sector: from the start of the reforms, in 1993, up to the present day. The presentation ended with lessons learned and mistakes to be avoided.
Luís Morbay, Senior Expert at the National Environment Authority (APA), presented the role of APA in regulating and supervising the water resources in Portugal.
ERSAR, Tuesday, October 9th
Ana Albuquerque, Board Member, ERSAR, presented the Portuguese water policies and results, the role of regulation and regulatory model, and the Regulatory challenges.
Rita Amaral, Senior lawyer at ERSAR, focused her presentation in the regulatory procedures.
Susana Rodrigues, Head of Water Quality Department, ERSAR, debated the role of ERSAR in the water quality control to Regulated Entities and consumers.
Portuguese Water Partnership, Wednesday, October 10th
João Simão Pires, Secretary General, PWP, presented the Portuguese stakeholders and its work in reforming the water sector. João also conducted a “role play” for the participants to understand the “negotiation” between a regulator and a utility.
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Jaime Melo Baptista, Senior Researcher at LNEC and Head of LIS Water, presented the LIS Water initiative and discussed the roles of Regulated Entities, presenting the Portuguese case study.
AdP – Águas de Portugal, Wednesday, October 10th
Alexandra Serra, Executive Director of AdP-International, presented an overview of the company and a general presentation of the international activity of AdP-Águas de Portugal.
Alexandra explained the multi-municipal systems management model:
• Large scale systems; • 100% public concessions from 20 to 50 years: • Responsible for “bulk” services: - Water treatment and supply to municipalities - Wastewater collection and treatment • Responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the systems. • Downstream, municipalities still manage (or grant in private concession) the distribution networks to consumers and also sewerage networks (“retail” service). • Municipalities are simultaneously shareholders and clients of the multi-municipal companies; • European Union “Cohesion Funds” supporting capital investment up to 85%
Master Plans were developed to large urban areas: Oporto and Algarve: raw water reservoirs , WTP, strategic treated water tanks; Estoril and Aveiro: Sewer main ring and WWTP. This were the “first generation” of multi-municipal systems, established to solve water quality and sewerage treatment problems in big urban areas.
A “Second generation” of multi-municipal systems were implemented in less populated regions.
In the multi-municipal model, municipalities were asked to participate actively to determine the layout of the pipelines and of the location of water reservoirs to reduce problems in land acquisition and pipe-laying. Detailed projects (no tenders to design and build), to ensure budget control and reduce contingencies during the works. In the case of complex works (water treatment plants, dams, intakes) the degree of development of the project is reduced to attract new technologies available.
In designing the multi-municipal systems, AdP uses surface intakes allowing a proper design of the raw water reserves. The Environment Ministry guarantees water quality and river pollution control upstream from intakes. Intake area is monitored so that alarm situations may be detected. Design of “bulk” water reservoirs and mains for daily average flows and not for peak flows.
In terms of optimizing investment and operating costs, AdP promotes:
• Flexible expansion plans to allow phased investment in terms of consumption increases. • Skilled human resources together with a high degree of automation.
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• Pipe materials selected on the basis of supply and assembly costs vs. expected useful life ratio. • Ensuring quality of construction and equipment when selecting the winning bidder
This allows AdP capacity to enlarge systems, high degree of automation, careful selection of materials in terms of quality and price.
Multi-municipal systems practice “full cost recovery”, assuring sustainability and efficient asset management, while Municipal systems are responsible to fix consumer’s tariffs and may subsidize service to practice lower tariffs although “full cost recovery” is encouraged.
João Nuno Mendes, President AdP-Águas de Portugal, thanked the visit in the end.
Águas do Ribatejo, Thursday, October 11th
Francisco Silvestre de Oliveira, Mayor of Coruche and Chairman of Águas do Ribatejo, explained the negotiation that lead to the regionalization, as well as the motives and process of decision making towards constitution of the company.
Helder Esménio, Mayor of Salvaterra de Magos, Board Member of Águas do Ribatejo, also highlighted the baseline, prior to the regionalization, and the results achieved by Águas do Ribatejo, ten years after its kick-of.
Miguel Carrinho, CFO of Águas do Ribatejo, presented the main indicators of the company, its evolution and the targets to be achieved. Miguel also mentioned the financial sources, debt and investment of the company as well as the internal organization and staffing.
SM Abrantes, Thursday, October 11th
Manuel Valamatos, City Councilor and Chairman of SM Abrantes, explained the management model of Abrantes and its main indicators.
While in Portugal the direct Municipal Management is the most common model to manage and operate WSS services, the bigger municipalities sometimes choose to separate their WSS services into an “Autonomous Municipal Services”, as Abrantes did 90 years ago.
In the direct Municipal Management, WSS P&L is merged within the municipal budget and decision-making is often political driven. In “Autonomous Municipal Services” (a model used mostly by large municipalities with skilled staff) economic sustainability and full cost recovery is common (as in Abrantes). Autonomous municipal services has their own P&L but bank debt concurs for total municipal debt.
In short, this management model gives some “independency” and focus to the WSS services. It has usually skilled staff (above average, compared to direct municipal services) and balanced
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operational results. These circumstances led the municipality of Abrantes to choose not to go into a regionalization process with its neighbor municipalities.
Águas do Tejo Atlantico, Friday, October 12th
Visit to the Wastewater Treatment Plant guided by António Frazão, Chairman of Águas do Tejo Atlantico, and Pedro Álvaro, COO.
In the national government policy a new strategy is being drafted aiming to publish regulations for Action Plans for the bigger 50 WWTP to reuse a percentage of its treated effluent.
At the EU level, it is also expected a new European Commission Directive proposal to establish the minimum requirements for the reuse of treated effluent from WWTP.
In Alcântara WWTP 460 m3 / day can be reused for different ends and actually 2% of this flow is already being reused for garden irrigation. The objective of Águas do Tejo Atlantico is to reach 30% of reuse until 2027.
Alcântara WWTP is studying ultrafiltration as a complementary solution for the reuse of treated effluent in internal consumption (equipment wash, preparation of reagents, deodoration system, washing of facilities and irrigation) as well as external uses (street wash of the Zona Ribeirinha and the axis Alcântara – Paço-Belém.
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4. Contact List
The Portuguese Delegation
Name Title Entity E-mail Telephone Secretary of State for the Carlos Martins Ministério do Ambiente [email protected] (+351) 21 323 15 00 Environment Chief of Staff, Secretary of State for Artur Cabeças Ministério do Ambiente [email protected] (+351) 21 323 15 00 the Environment Advisor, Secretary of State for the Simone Pio Ministério do Ambiente [email protected] (+351) 21 323 15 00 Environment President Management Support to Diogo Faria de Oliveira Defining Future Options [email protected] (+351) 210 438 600 PENSAAR 2020 João Nuno Mendes President AdP - Águas de Portugal [email protected] (+351) 21 246 94 00 Alexandra Serra Board Member AdP - Internacional [email protected] (+351) 21 246 94 00 Ana Albuquerque Board Member ERSAR [email protected] (+351) 21 005 2200 Rita Amaral Law Department ERSAR (+351) 21 005 2200 Susana Rodrigues Head of Water Quality Department ERSAR (+351) 21 005 2200 LNEC - Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Jaime Melo Baptista Research Coordinator Civil (National Laboratory for Civil [email protected] (+351) 218 443 628 Engineering) / LIS-Water Francisco Silvestre de Oliveira Chairman Águas do Ribatejo Helder Esménio Board Member Águas do Ribatejo Miguel Carinho CFO Águas do Ribatejo [email protected] Manuel Valamatos Chairman Serviços Municipalizados de Abrantes [email protected] João Simão Pires Executive director PWP - Portuguese Water Partnership [email protected] (+351) 218 44 31 93 Carmo Campelo Ribeiro Partnership manager PWP - Portuguese Water Partnership [email protected] (+351) 218 44 31 92 Ana Filipa Carlos Content and Events Manager PWP - Portuguese Water Partnership [email protected] (+351) 218 44 31 91 António Frazão Chairman Águas do Tejo Atlantico [email protected] (+351) 213 10 79 00 Pedro Álvaro Chief of Operations Águas do Tejo Atlantico [email protected] (+351) 213 10 79 00
The World Bank and Balkans Delegation
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5. Further Information on visited institutions
ERSAR – The Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority http://www.ersar.pt/en
Organization
The organizational and functional model of ERSAR is composed by the Board of Directors, by the operational services (Waste Systems Department, Water Systems Department, Contract Management Department, Direct Management Department, Legal Department and Quality Department.
The technical and administrative support services are made up of the Administrative, Financial and Human Resources Department and the Technology and Information Management Department.
The organization chart is completed with the advisory board and the statutory auditor (both required by law).
Historical Evolution
There are four relevant periods in the regulation of the water and waste sector in Portugal:
2000 – 2003: IRAR was the regulation authority for water and waste services of a growing number of concessionaires. At the end of 2003, there were about 50 regulated operators.
2004 – 2009: Besides regulating these 50 operators, IRAR assumed the role of national authority for drinking water quality. In this respect, IRAR had more 400 operators to regulate.
Since 2009: ERSAR replaced IRAR and is now the regulation authority for the entire water and waste sector, with over 500 regulated operators, keeping its mission as national authority for drinking water quality.
In 2014, ERSAR became an independent body with more autonomy and strengthened sanction and regulation powers.
Purpose of Regulation
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Regulation has as main objective the protection of users’ and consumers’ interests by promoting the quality of service provided by operators and ensuring socially acceptable pricing, since water and waste services must have the following characteristics: essentialness, indispensability, universal access, equity, reliability and cost-efficiency associated with the quality of service.
However, this should be done considering the financial viability and the legitimate interests of the operators, regardless of the responsibility for its provision or management model, and also considering the promotion of the rest of the economic sector, through the reinforcement of the business framework while also contributing to the application of the policies defined by the government.
ERSAR is guided by the principles of competence, fairness, impartiality and transparency, comprehensively considering the technical, financial, legal, environmental, public health and social ethics, which should characterize the water and waste services.
Scope of regulation
ERSAR must assure two distinct, although complementary duties:
- Regulation authority for the drinking water supply services, urban wastewater management services and municipal waste management services;
- National authority for drinking water quality.
Concerning the first duty, ERSAR, aims to ensure the quality of the services rendered by drinking water supply systems, urban wastewater and municipal waste systems, supervising the creation, execution, management and operation of those systems. ERSAR also ensures the stability of the sector and the financial sustainability of these systems. As a regulator, ERSAR has to act over all 500 operators of the water and waste sector.
In 2003, ERSAR was nominated the national authority for drinking water quality. Currently, the regulation of drinking water quality includes all 400 drinking water supply operators.
Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) https://www.apambiente.pt/index.php?ref=x178
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is a new public institute, within the scope of the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment, Territory Management and Energy. Our mission is to propose, develop and monitor, on an integrated and participated manner, the
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public policies for the environment and sustainable development, in close cooperation with other sectoral policies and public and private entities. APA counts nowadays with more than 800 highly skilled employees and consultants.
Organization
Areas of Intervention: • Air • Water • Waste • Climate changes • Chemicals • Noise • Protection of ozone layer • Genetic Modified Organisms • Sustainable development • Citizen participation • Environmental assessments • Environmental economics and green growth • Environmental risks
Strategic goals: To increase the level of protection, recovery and enhancement of ecosystem To increase the level of protection of people and goods in risk situation To improve the knowledge and information about the environment To reinforce public participation and to ensure the involvement of the institutions To guarantee the excellence of performing in all assignments
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APA in the international fora APA works in close cooperation with the European Environment Agency, mainly through the EIONET network, for which it is the National Focal Point (NFP). As a NFP, APA is responsible for developing and maintaining a national network of reference organisations and experts working and researching environment and sustainable development issues, identifying national sources of information, collecting data and information resulting from monitoring activities and, finally, supporting the EEA in communicating its activities in Portugal. Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC) http://www.lnec.pt/en/
MISSION
LNEC's mission is to undertake, coordinate and promote scientific research and technological development, aiming to the continuous improvement and the good practice of Civil Engineering.
It is also LNEC’s responsibility to pursue the public interest, by providing services of Science and Technology to public and private, national and foreign entities, contributing to innovation, dissemination of Knowledge and technology transfer.
It is also LNEC’s mission to assist the Government in the pursuit of public policies, and to provide technical support to the entities that constitute the Authority in the various sectors of Public Administration, in particular with regard to:
o Quality and safety of works, persons and assets; o Protection and requalification of the natural and built heritage; and o Modernisation and technological innovation, particularly in the building sector.
Since its early days, LNEC has been establishing networks and partnerships with national and international entities, giving it the ability to promote and foster the globalization of Science and Knowledge, positioning LNEC as an important partner in its area of expertise.
History
NEC was created in 1946 from two different institutions: a Laboratory for Testing and Study of Materials, active since 1898, which had a solid experimental side, and a Centre for Studies in Civil Engineering, a scientific research unit created in 1942 under the name of Centre for Studies in Applied Mechanics, whose founder and leader was Eng.º Manuel Rocha, one of the greatest names of Portuguese engineering of the twentieth century, was also and one of LNEC’s first Directors.
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Since its early days, LNEC has had in its genesis this double perspective - research and experimentation - that continues today, as one of its main characteristics and asset.
Until 1952, the year of the inauguration of LNEC’s campus at Av. do Brasil, the Laboratory (until then simply called "Laboratory for Civil Engineering") was spread over several buildings in Lisbon: the Customs Building (where the Laboratory for Testing and Study of Materials was installed), the Instituto Superior Técnico (where the Centre for Studies in Civil Engineering operated) and the Pavilion of the Hydraulics Division, at Av. do Brasil, which remains to the present day fully operational.
Built upon a culture of research and transfer of knowledge and technology, LNEC was, since the beginning, called out to assist on the pursuit of national objectives, such as the first public works programs, which began soon after World War II (dams, roads, fluvial and maritime hydraulics, large structures). About the same time, LNEC also began its activity around the world, supporting the development of the Portuguese Overseas provinces and carrying out studies and expert reports worldwide, some of them emblematic, as the study for the enlargement of Copacabana beach, activity that, even today, results in participation in dozens of international projects in association with other national and foreign institutions.
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Organization
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Aguas de Portugal (AdP) http://www.adp.pt/en/
The AdP – Águas de Portugal group plays a structural role in the environment sector in Portugal and spanning the fields of water supply and wastewater sanitation.
Through its holdings, the AdP Group operates nationwide, right from the north to the south, providing services to the municipalities that are simultaneously shareholders in the companies managing the multi-municipal systems (“upstream” systems) and directly serving their populations through municipal level services (“downstream” systems) for water supply and sanitation.
Over the course of the last two decades, the AdP Group has invested over €6.3 billion which, in conjunction with its planning and implementation capacities, its operational and financial management experience, the development of innovative solutions and the great commitment and dedication of its members of staff, has enabled a major improvement in these essential public services. This has resulted in positive and concrete impacts on the quality of the environment, public health, service standards and the overall sustainability of the sector.
Mission The AdP - Águas de Portugal group manages its socially held companies in accordance with its mission to design, build, operate and manage Water Supply and Wastewater Sanitation Systems within a framework of economic, financial, technical, social and environmental sustainability and correspondingly developing a Portuguese business group with strong, high-level competences, able to effectively and efficiently respond to the major challenges faced by the environmental sector.
Vision Established as a state sector business entity to implement public policies and attain national objectives within the environmental sector, the group strives to bring about universality, continuity and quality in all services alongside sector sustainability and the protection of environmental values.
Values Sustainability in the utilisation of natural resources and preserving water as a strategic resource essential to life, balancing and improving environmental quality, equity in the access to basic services and fostering well-being through raising the quality of life of citizens all represent fundamental AdP Group values.
History
The year of 1993 saw the launch of a genuine revolution in the supply of water and wastewater sanitation in Portugal. As a result of membership of the then European Economic Community,
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there was the scope for implementing a corporate management structure led by Águas de Portugal in partnership with the municipalities.
Through supra-municipal solutions, returning economies of scale and enabling greater levels of efficiency in the utilisation of resources, the group proved able to attain the objectives of raising water quality standards alongside public service levels with Portugal now ranking among the European Union countries attaining the best levels of environmental performance.
Today, Águas de Portugal group companies provide services, directly or indirectly, throughout all of mainland Portugal and across the fields of water supply and wastewater sanitation. The group runs further operations in the renewable energies and shared service sectors as well as its ongoing engagement in international markets.
Taking into account guaranteeing all citizens continuity, universality, quality and sustainability in the provision of these essential public services, the group sets about its mission and heading down a path enabling a more robust and sustainable future due to the excellence of the services rendered, its high level environmental performance and constantly deepening it technical, economic and financial levels of efficiency.
Águas do Ribatejo http://www.aguasdoribatejo.com/
Águas do Ribatejo is a company with high responsibilities in the seven municipalities served, Almeirim, Alpiarça, Benavente, Chamusca, Coruche, Salvaterra de Magos and Torres Novas. The company consisting only of public funds of the municipalities intervenes in the scope of the Intermediate Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Systems of the Tejo and Almonda with a high sense of responsibility in the protection of the environment and consequent environmental sustainability.
Águas do Ribatejo has as mission to ensure a service of excellence that guarantees the continuous supply of quality water and the drainage and treatment of wastewater of the approximately 150 000 inhabitants of the municipalities covered.
History
In the last decade of the 20th century Portugal revealed serious shortcomings in water supply systems for public consumption, low levels of wastewater treatment and lack of solid waste management systems. The management and operation of these systems were the exclusive
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responsibility of the Municipalities, with investments predominating in a local and non-integrated logic.
In the 1990s, instruments began to emerge that would increase the levels of service provided by the Portuguese population in the water supply and sanitation sectors, in a sustainable manner, in quantity and quality.
At this point, the first multi-municipal water supply and wastewater sanitation systems began to emerge, the responsibility of which was then assigned, aimed at remedying the inadequacies of water supply systems for public consumption and increasing the levels of water supply. population served by wastewater sanitation systems.
It is from this concept that the Inter - municipal System of Water Supply and Sanitation of the Tagus River, which allows the integrated management of the Water Supply and Sanitation services of the adhering Municipalities, through a company owned exclusively by Municipalities - AR - Águas do Ribatejo - constituted in December 2007, highlighting the fact that it is not based on a Multimunicipal System, but rather on an Intermunicipal System.
This business formula enables the integrated management of water supply and drainage and wastewater treatment systems in the acceding municipalities and allows to achieve benefits of rationalization of the investment in the enlarged network, integrating solutions that would be more costly if taken individually by each municipality.
The situation prior to the RA made it difficult in several cases to solve the existing problems, not only because of the unbearable investment and financing required of some municipalities, but also because it did not allow finding integrated solutions that would provide significant economies of scale. In practice, despite the efforts made over recent years by the municipalities, the advantages, technical and economic level that could come from the integration of these efforts, became evident. In this logic, the Municipalities of Almeirim, Alpiarça, Benavente, Chamusca, Coruche and Salvaterra de Magos attributed to AR - Águas do Ribatejo, EIM, the management and operation of its Municipal Water Supply and Public Water Supply and Sanitation Systems Residual, in the "high" and "low" slopes.
Organization
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Servicios Municipalizados Abrantes http://www.sma.cm-abrantes.pt/
The Municipal Services of Abrantes aim to ensure the public supply of water to the municipality of Abrantes and, since the beginning of 2008, are part of the urban solid waste collection service.
Also from 2008 onwards, they cooperated and monitored the activities of the concessionaire company, which will ensure the drainage and treatment of urban wastewater from existing systems and make the necessary investments to expand them to ensure service to at least 92% of the municipality's population. Abrantes.
Mission and objectives
It is the mission of the municipal services of Abrantes (SMA) to ensure, with stringent quality standards, the public service of water supply of municipal solid waste collection , as well as ensuring compliance with the concession contract of wastewater services , the municipality of Abrantes, within a framework of economic, financial, technical, social and environmental sustainability.
Generally, the objectives of SMA are:
• Ensure the satisfaction of the needs of the population of the municipality of Abrantes in the area of water supply;
• Monitor and supervise the concession contract for the urban wastewater service of the Municipality of Abrantes;
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• Ensure proper planning, organization, collection and transport of solid urban waste;
• In accordance with the available technical resources and capabilities, carry out other tasks assigned to it in the framework of the public basic sanitation service.
History
From the point of view of natural resources, Abrantes enjoys two of the largest water resources in the country: the Tagus River (which crosses the county in an area of about 30 km) and the Castelo do Bode, which takes advantage of the water of the Zêzere River , for energy production and reserve for water supply.
The city of Abrantes as well as some towns of the county have already a few centuries of history and in that time past the needs of water supply were supplied with resources to sources, springs and artesian wells.
On January 4, 1928: The first Administrative Commission of the Municipal and Autonomous Services of the City Council of Abrantes took office, in compliance with the provisions of Decree No. 13 350 of March 28 of the Government Gazette.
In 1974: At the end of this year, the municipalities of Abrantes, Alferrarede, Amoreira, Alvega, Bemposta, Matagosa, Martinchel, Mouriscas, Pego, Moinhos River, Rossio to the South of the Tagus, S. Miguel do Rio Torto, Tramagal and Vale dos Mós. The 9,295 counters then installed registered 1,157,357 m3 of billed consumptions.
On 20 October 2002: It inaugurated the system of supply that currently serves more than 42% of the population of the county, with water captured in the Albufeira de Castelo do Bode.
On 24 November 2003 and 19 December 2003: By deliberations of the City Council and Municipal Assembly respectively, it was authorized to extend the scope of activities developed by the Municipal Services, to include the necessary skills to proceed with the management of the sanitation system in any of the modalities permitted by law.
As of January 2005: SMAs assume responsibilities in the area of sanitation.
On 23 April 2007: It was decided by the City Council that the concession (from Urban Wastewater to Abrantáqua) be accompanied by the Municipal Services.
In 2007: The new warehouse and the new workshop are inaugurated.
At its sitting of 14 December 2007: The Abrantes Municipal Assembly unanimously approved the municipalisation of the municipal solid waste management service and integration into the Municipal Services (SMA).
On 1 January 2008: The SMA is the entity responsible for planning, organizing, collecting and transporting to an appropriate destination of municipal solid waste.
March 16, 2008: Inauguration of the new warehouse and workshop.
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On September 6, 2010: The SMA committed themselves to administrative modernization, with the opening of the new headquarters in the Abrantes Industrial Park, the existence of a full-time Board member, the introduction of a new computer application for water management, and the restructuring of services.
September 20, 2012: A telemarketing project of more than half a million euros of investment (telemarketing itself, instrumentation, communications and electricity, reclaiming) is under way, which will allow a qualitative leap in the control of the whole process of abstraction, treatment and distribution of water supply.
November 7, 2012: The washing station (specially designed for the municipal waste vehicles), the complementary warehouse and the expansion area of the workshop are put into operation.
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Águas do Tejo Atlantico https://www.aguasdotejoatlantico.adp.pt/
Águas do Tejo Atlântico, SA is a public limited company, created by Decree-Law 34/2017, of March 24, responsible for the management and operation of the multi-municipal wastewater sanitation system of Greater Lisbon and the West, in exclusive regime and for a term of 30 years.
The company aims to collect, treat and reject domestic and urban effluents on a regular, continuous and efficient basis, coming from about 2.4 million inhabitants, covering the municipalities of Alcobaça, Alenquer, Amadora, Arruda dos Wines, Azambuja, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Lourinhã, Mafra, Nazaré, Óbidos, Odivelas, Oeiras, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sintra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Torres Vedras and Vila Franca de Xira.
Mission
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Águas do Tejo Atlântico has the mission of exploring and managing the multi-municipal wastewater sanitation system of Greater Lisbon and the West, guaranteeing the quality, continuity and efficiency of public water services, in the sense of protecting public health, good the accessibility of public services, environmental protection and the economic and financial sustainability of the sector, in a framework of tariff equity and stability, also contributing to regional development and spatial planning, as well as to national plans and programs and the obligations arising from Community legislation.
Vision
To be recognized, nationally and internationally, as a reference company in the water sector in Portugal, for quality of service provided, innovation, competence, efficiency, sustainability and value creation, within a framework of compliance with applicable legal requirements and other voluntary commitments by the company, working daily to:
To execute the necessary investment in the pursuit of its mission, implementing approaches for the global optimization of the management of the sanitation systems and guiding the design for the improvement of the energy performance;
• Ensure the provision of a sustainable and innovative service, focused on the client and other interested parties, respecting the environment, the community, the environment and promoting collaboration and the sharing of information and knowledge; • To ensure greater efficiency in the use of resources, in particular by focusing on renewable energies and promoting other energy optimization practices in the installations, reuse of treated waste water and the search for new solutions for process sludge, preventing pollution of and minimizing the environmental impacts associated with the activity; • Establish contracts for the supply of goods and services with suppliers who share our principles and business ethics and acquire energy-efficient products and services; • Ensure that workers find an increasingly safe and healthy workplace every day, integrating the aspects of Safety and Health at Work into the management of our business, so that all activities are considered from the perspective of prevention and minimization of risks; • To provide an increasingly better service, based on the establishment of a culture of continuous improvement that consolidates the management of processes and promotes performance efficiency and management model. • Ensure the responsibility and motivation of employees for a high level of performance, fostering teamwork, transversal to the company and promoting continuous training.
We believe that sustainable success can only be achieved through our employees, our customers, the community and other stakeholders, fulfilling their needs and expectations and ensuring the availability of information and resources necessary to achieve our goals and objectives.