Water and waste services in Portugal
Water and waste services are assigned to a managing body for each area in the country.
This page provides information on the following:
Properties, whether residential or industrial, must always be connected to the public water and sanitation network. In other words, the infrastructure necessary for the property to be connected to the network must be built.
If there is a public water supply or sewage network within 20 metres of the boundary of a property, the owner of the property is obliged to connect to the network.
If there is no public water supply or sewage network within 20 metres of the boundary of a property, the managing body is obliged to provide waste water treatment by cleaning the septic tank.
In order to find out whether there is a public network to which you can connect and the prices for connection and use of the network contact the managing body for your area of residence.
More information can be found on the page on consumer rights and duties or in the FAQs on connection to the public network on the Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR) website.
Any person or company occupying a building, house or factory, for example, may request the supply of water.
In order to sign the water supply contract, you usually have to provide an identification document and proof that you are allowed to occupy the property, such as the deed of purchase or the lease agreement.
You are not obliged to pay any debts arising from a previous contract for the same property.
To find out the price for reactivating and using the network, please contact the managing body in your area of residence.
More information can be found in the FAQs on water and sanitation services contracts on the Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR) website).
You can complain about water and sanitation services by using:
- the physical complaints book of the entity providing the service
- do the online complaints book
- do the online complaints form of the Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR).
If you wish to question the billed amount, you must attach a copy of the bill concerned to the complaint.
More information can be found on the ERSAR website.
Water and waste management bodies are required to provide social tariffs for low-income households, charities, non-profit organisations and public-benefit entities.
Management bodies are also required to provide special tariffs for large families.
To find out whether you are eligible for any of these benefits, please contact the managing body for your area of residence.
For more information or if you need help, please contact ERSAR:
- phone: 210 052 200
- e-mail: reclamacoes@ersar.pt.