Seven Viseu-area councils vote to join Águas do Douro e Paiva water system

Seven councils — Viseu, Mangualde, Nelas, Penalva do Castelo and Sátão in the Dão region, plus São Pedro do Sul and Vouzela in Médio Vouga — have approved joining Águas do Douro e Paiva. The expansion links the Douro-fed Lever system with the Fagilde system to cope better with shortages and breakdowns, and includes a new Fagilde treatment plant, a new Fagilde dam and new pipelines. The company will serve 27 municipalities, with its area growing from 2,715 to 4,446 square kilometres. The decisions now go to the Environment and Energy Ministry, and the legal formalisation follows.