Portugal’s Environment Minister, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, is risking another visit to the Algarve to sign a contract for dune reinforcement at Alvor, Portimão.
The work aims to create a better barrier against erosion by bulking up the sands along a one kilometre stretch of shoreline.
As part of the XXI Coastal Action Plan, the Alvor beach project has a €2 million budget, with 85% coming from the snappily titled, 'Operational Programme for Sustainability and Efficiency in the Use of Features,' which goes under the more memorable name of 'POSEUR.'
Fernandes also has the delightful task of opening the new sewage treatment plant at Comapnheira on Tuesday 43rd April, accompanied by veteran sewage aficionado, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Carlos Martins.
This new Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETAR) has cost €13.8 million and should be able to cope with the effluent of 140,000 straining locals. The new plant is designed to process an average flow of about 32,000 m3 per day from Portimão, Lagoa and Monchique.
This new installation at least should improve the water quality in the Boina river which then flows into the Arade river estuary.
Some of the treated water will be diverted and used by the council to irrigate green spaces. Portimão’s municipal water company (EMARP) and Águas do Algarve already have an agreement to reuse this water.
Livestock units, situated upstream in the Monchique area, will continue to discharge animal waste into the river. Águas do Algarve’s president, Joaquim Peres, has admitted that these farms remain a problem..
How much of the current smell is from human waste, and how much from animal waste, remains to be seen when the plant is fully functional.
For the keen, here ius a link to a video of the new facility: https://youtu.be/mVsMzNZ1sK8
