The “Water that Unites” strategy, which has almost 300 measures to be implemented (some until 2050), was presented at the São Francisco Convent, in Coimbra, in a session that was attended by several members of the government, including the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, mayors and members of the working group that developed the plan.

According to the document sent to journalists, the strategy foresees increasing efficiency by reducing water losses in public, agricultural, tourist and industrial supply systems, using treated wastewater, optimising dams and building new ones.

The strategy also includes the creation of new water collection infrastructures, desalination units and, as a last resort, the interconnection between river basins, and measures to restore river ecosystems and for integrated water management are also included.

The strategy aims to increase availability by 1,139 cubic hectometers (a measure of the amount of water stored in dams).

The document presents several examples, divided by regions.

In the North, the modernization of the Vilariça Valley Hydro-Agricultural Development is planned, implementation of the irrigation program in several locations, increase in the capacity of the Pinhão (Vila Real), Vila Chã (Alijó), Sambade (Alfândega da Fé) and Valtorno (Vila Flor) dams, removal of obsolete hydraulic infrastructures (drywalls) from the Côa River and the creation of the Multi-Purpose Project of the Baixo Sabor and Foz Tua Dam.

In the Vouga, Mondego and Lis region, interventions are planned for the environmental rehabilitation of the hydrographic network of the Lis basin (Leiria), a program to promote water efficiency in the Aveiro region, the modernization of the hydro-agricultural use of the Baixo Mondego, a study “to assess the feasibility of building the Girabolhos dam”, in Seia, and an increase in the water supply to the municipalities in the Viseu region.

In the Tagus, investments include the modernization of the hydro-agricultural development of Idanha-a-Nova, a study for the construction of the Alvito dam, close to Vila Velha de Ródão, a project for the agricultural valorization of the water resources of the Tagus Valley and West and a feasibility study for the connection of the Tagus and Guadiana basins.

In Alentejo, an interconnection between Alqueva and Mira is planned, a program to increase the efficiency of water systems as well as a total modernization of the use of Mira.

In the Algarve, among others, the completion of the modernization of the Alvor development and feasibility studies for the construction of two dams are planned.

According to the strategy, regional investments are divided with 479 million euros for Tejo and Oeste, 448 million euros for the North, 267 million for Vouga, Mondego and Lis, 156 million euros for Alentejo and 126 million euros in the Algarve.

In addition to investments aimed at specific locations, there are projects and measures with national scope.