In a statement, ERSAR says that tap water for human consumption on the mainland remains at a “level of excellence”, in reference to the fact that in recent years the value for water quality has always remained very high.

In the previous year, the “safe water” indicator had reached 98.88%, slightly higher, but the current value confirms “the trend for the ninth consecutive year of maintaining this indicator at 99%, that is, excellence in the quality of water for human consumption”, says ERSAR.

In 1993, the indicator was only at 50%.

The value of the indicator, says the entity, reflects the control of water quality (analysis) and compliance with quality standards.

ERSAR adds that, since August last year, a “set of new requirements” have been introduced in terms of control and quality of water for human consumption.

The document is volume 2 of the Annual Report of Water and Waste Services in Portugal and summarizes the most relevant information on the quality of water for human consumption.

It is also noted that the magnitude of regional asymmetries has been decreasing, although the analyses still indicate “some differences between water quality on the coast and inland”.

Reporting that even in small supply areas, “historically more likely to fail to comply with parametric water quality values”, safe water indicators are at 98%. ERSAR notes in the report that size is still a “differentiating factor”.

Small supply areas, with up to five thousand inhabitants, account for “most of the non-compliances” with the established quality values. However, the trend towards a decrease in the number of areas where this occurs continues, the entity highlights.

Also according to the report, last year, as in 2022, there were no reports of epidemiological outbreaks associated with the ingestion of water for human consumption from public supply systems.