Almada reaches critical reserves
Almada declared an alert with reservoirs at just 10% of capacity, banning garden watering, car washing and pool filling to protect essential supply.
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Pulse
10 July 2026
Good morning! Today water is very much on our minds - from the Almada shortages to reuse and desalination in the Algarve - but there's also plenty of good news for nature, coasts and local life.
New wells announced
Almada's mayor announced new water captation wells to tackle the shortage and rejected criticism over lack of investment.
Regulator sees no other cases
ERSAR says it knows of no other supply failures comparable to Almada's, where public protests even called for the mayor's resignation.
The challenge of the century
A commentator warns that water scarcity will be this century's defining challenge and that political battles over it lead nowhere.
Billions of litres lost
DECO reports Portugal lost around 2 billion cubic metres of treated water through leaks since 2013, urging investment in network renewal and reuse.
Reuse and desalination take shape
The Algarve advances a two-pronged strategy of expanded water reuse and a future desalination plant to face drought and climate change.
Vilamoura station ready for human supply
The new Vilamoura reuse station serves gardens, golf and agriculture but is also prepared for potential human supply, as desalination works continue in Albufeira.
Madeira invests in wind
Madeira is putting 19.7 million euros into wind farms in Ponta do Sol and Calheta, adding renewable capacity and cutting external energy dependence.
Swimming from an offshore wind farm
Six swimmers will cover 20 km from the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind farm to Viana do Castelo, marking the project's sixth anniversary.
Green gas from waste
Projects around Leiria are producing biogas and biomethane from livestock effluents, sludge and urban waste, though new plants face regulatory delays.
Cambarinho reserve burns again
The largest fire of 2026 hit the Cambarinho Botanical Reserve for a second time in a decade, prompting calls for a buffer zone away from eucalyptus.
Eucalyptus back in burned Águeda
Quercus denounces new eucalyptus plantings in fire-hit areas of Águeda, near homes and waterways, demanding oversight and native-species reconversion.
Giving cork oak seedlings time
A 12-year study shows cattle grazing pressure reduces cork oak seedling survival, and rest periods only help when previous pressure was moderate.
Storks return to the wild
BioRia in Estarreja returns rehabilitated white storks to nature, with around a hundred children watching and learning about wildlife recovery.
Bioflorestal acquisition notified
Crest Agro and the Frias family notified the competition authority of their joint acquisition of Bioflorestal, active in wood, chips and forest biomass.
Warning on renewable acceleration zones
A civic movement warns the renewable acceleration zones programme could destroy forest, urging installation on already-artificialised land and public participation.
Beira Baixa says no to a solar mega-project
An opinion piece rejects the large Sophia solar plant and its power lines, arguing for rooftops and industrial areas rather than rural land.
Marine heatwaves off Faro
The Navy detected two consecutive marine heatwaves off Faro, with sea temperature peaking at 26.1°C, threatening ecosystems, fishing and aquaculture.
Boosting kelp forests in Peniche
A Peniche-developed technology uses modular labs to triple the growth of marine algae forests, helping restore degraded underwater ecosystems.
55.5 million packages returned
The Volta deposit-return system collected 55.5 million single-use drink containers in its first three months, though accessibility concerns were raised.
Brussels targets Portugal on recycling
The Commission issued a reasoned opinion to Portugal for missing EU recycling targets for urban waste and glass packaging.
Festival clean-ups aren't enough
A MARE study found post-festival beach clean-ups fail to prevent litter accumulation, calling for stricter licensing and waste management rules.
Concreta drops the carpet
The Concreta 2026 fair will remove carpeting from its stands, avoiding more than 10,000 square metres of waste and reinforcing sustainable building.
Cars still rule in Lisbon area
An ACP study finds cars dominate Lisbon-area mobility, though nearly half would use public transport more with better frequency and timetables.
Leiria's mobility plan
Leiria will submit its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan to public discussion, proposing better public transport, peripheral parking and walking and cycling.
Shared e-bikes off the road
Several shared e-bike systems around Leiria are stalled due to poor maintenance, insolvency and technical faults, some in storage for years.
Sheep wool as insulation
Bragança's polytechnic is testing sheep wool as building insulation, with thermal performance comparable to rock wool and a lower environmental footprint.
Greener wine cellars
A Vine & Wine event showcased the new Cedro cellar, cutting water use by 50% and energy needs by 40% through automation and solar power.
A peach orchard revived
A Fundão orchard set for removal recovered its production in about a year with technical support, showing how disease can be tackled without residues.
Food safety gathering
Portugal Food Safety 2026 will bring food industry professionals to Alcobaça on 28 October for sessions on innovation and new European rules.
PortoBay renews Green Key
All PortoBay hotels in Portugal renewed their Green Key certification, recognising sustainable management from energy to water and social responsibility.
Green Key in Madeira
The Calheta Beach and NEXT hotels renewed their Green Key certification for 2026, reflecting continued good environmental practices.
Experiences on the Minho river
A new programme offers free nautical experiences along the cross-border Minho river, with 14 operators across its three sections.
Flamingos mural in Olhão
Olhão unveiled a Bordalo II mural of Ria Formosa flamingos made from reused materials, part of a push for urban renewal and environmental awareness.
Tavira rewards young ideas
Tavira's 'Ideias à Maré' awarded three young projects, from intercultural cooking workshops to digital wellbeing, encouraging sustainable entrepreneurship.
Mafra lemon towards protection
The LIMAFRA association was created to lead the recognition of the Mafra lemon as a Protected Geographical Indication, safeguarding a century-old tradition.
Azores 2030 funding roadshow
The Azores 2030 roadshow visits three islands to present funding opportunities for research, innovation and technology, with free but registered entry.
Teaching beach recycling
The Ponto Verde Academy tours beaches teaching children to recycle through games and stories, having already reached over 37,500 students.
Youth for the Environment
Castro Marim's 'Youth for the Environment' programme returns for a sixth edition, engaging teens in conservation and community awareness.
Summer between land and sea
Portimão's summer programme offers children sailing, surf and ocean-focused environmental education at the marina until September.
Nature, yoga and stars in Fajão
The schist village of Fajão hosts an evening of walking, a solar eclipse, yoga and stargazing, including the Perseids meteor shower.
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