Cerveira finalises protection zone around Covas public water source

The municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira has completed the legal safeguarding of groundwater used for public supply in the parish of Covas. The last step was Portaria 462/2026/1, published on 20 October, which sets the boundaries of the protection perimeter around the Mina Corticas water source. The council paid for specialist technical studies and laboratory analyses to help prevent contamination, and these underpinned its case to the Portuguese Environment Agency. Mayor Rui Teixeira described the approval as more than a legal obligation, calling it a tool for preventing contamination risks and managing groundwater responsibly.