Sintra to spend €1m cutting water network losses

Sintra's municipal water utility SMAS is investing €1 million to improve supply network efficiency, installing seven and refurbishing eight pressure-reducing valves (VRP) at a cost of €720,000, part of its strategy to cut unbilled water, which stood at about 18% at the end of 2025. The valves, needed because of the council's hilly terrain, reduce pipe bursts and waste. SMAS also recently completed eight new metering and control zones (ZMC) for €300,000, bringing its network to over 60 such zones across nearly 1,900km of pipes. The valve works run until the end of 2027.