Setubal, Portugal, Oct. 1, 2026 (Lusa) - The Setubal Peninsula, south of the Portuguese capital, faces a potential imbalance between water supply and demand in the near future, according to a study commissioned by Aguas de Portugal, which identifies water reuse and water efficiency as priority solutions.
The study, «Setúbal Peninsula – Water Resilience», presented on Thursday in Setúbal by Águas de Portugal and Setúbal city council to mark National Water Day, is the result of a collaborative process that brought together municipalities, public bodies, water service managers, the scientific community and water consumers.
The stated aim of producing this document is to create a solid knowledge base to support future decision-making in an area undergoing significant economic and territorial transformation, driven by the expansion of industrial, urban, tourism and logistics activities, as well as the prospect of new major infrastructure projects, including the new airport and airport city, the third Tagus river bridge (Barreiro–Chelas) and the extension of the Metro Sul do Tejo to Alcochete.
According to the study, the aquifer system of the Tagus-Sado Basin/Left Bank is Portugal's most significant body of groundwater in terms of water availability and the main water reserve for the Setúbal Peninsula, «a region that depends almost exclusively on groundwater abstraction for public supply and economic activities».
«The study presented here warns of a potential imbalance between water supply and demand on the Setúbal Peninsula in the near future, which can be avoided through the implementation of short- and medium-term structural measures,» the document states.
From a technical and environmental perspective, the study adds, there are warning signs that warrant immediate attention: «recent studies point to stable or falling piezometric levels, particularly during periods of drought, and to an unfavourable trend in water quality at the most shallow levels» Furthermore, it adds, there are significant centres of groundwater extraction near industrial and urban agglomerations, associated with substantial drawdowns and signs of saline intrusion in areas close to the coast; and future climate scenarios point to a gradual reduction in precipitation and, consequently, in annual runoff, with a negative impact on aquifer recharge.
Against this backdrop, the promotion of water reuse on the Setúbal Peninsula is proposed as a priority measure, as a starting point for strengthening the water supply and protecting the aquifer system, alongside the improvement of water efficiency.
«Given that the industrial sector accounts for a significant – and growing – proportion of the pressure on water resources, it is proposed to develop collaborative and innovative models that foster symbiosis between the decentralised systems of industrial units in the region and the centralised systems of public sanitation services and water for reuse (ApR) production,» the study states.
In this context, the study points out that the aim is to harness the region's existing potential, estimated at around 60 hm³, resulting from the combination of urban and industrial effluents, by promoting their inclusion in an integrated use, in conjunction with the adoption of water efficiency measures.
The Setúbal Peninsula comprises nine municipalities (Almada, Barreiro, Seixal, Sesimbra, Moita, Alcochete, Montijo, Palmela and Setúbal) with a population of almost one million, and boasts a territorial diversity that combines densely populated and industrialised urban areas with extensive natural areas of high ecological value.
According to the study, there are currently 185 water abstraction points for urban supply on the Setúbal Peninsula (ERSAR, 2025); their distribution across the region is uneven, and the licensing of new abstraction points is subject to strict criteria, including automatic reporting of volumes, the installation of level sensors and periodic reviews of existing licences.
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