The regional water company, Águas do Algarve, has announced further research into a project to control pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants.

The investigation has been approved under the LIFE 2014-2017 programme and the main objectives are to monitor and to determine the efficiency of removing drugs from waste water treatment plants using conventional treatment systems, as well as evaluating new techniques.

The Almargem Association has submitted an application to the Environmental Fund for a project that seeks to understand more about the Algarve region’s several wetlands in support of their classification as protected areas.

According to Almargem, the areas of Trafal and Foz do Almargem (Loulé), Lagoa dos Salgados and Sapais da Pêra (Silves, Albufeira) and Alagoas Brancas (Lagoa) are included.

The temperature is rising across the Algarve so the National Maritime Authority has posted an alert for people to be sensible on the region’s beaches and coastal areas even suggesting that swimming in the sea is not a good idea this weekend.

The authority says that it is important to remember that the sea at this time of year is a winter sea, meaning that beaches and coastal areas are at high risk due to the effects of recent high seas. This has left some steep slopes in the sand and a danger of whirlpools and rip-tides.

Two young men, aged 17 and 19, suspected of robbing people in the streets of Olhão, attacking some of them with an iron bar, have been arrested and are awaiting trial from the security of a prison cell.

The arrest of the two suspects was ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Faro and carried out by the PSP in Olhão.

The German supermarket chain, Lidl, is to stop supplying plastic bags across its 250 stores in Portugal.

The phasing-out begins in May and ends in December 2019, with alternative paper or raffia bags available to customers.

Portugal’s government has presented a draft law to safeguard rights of British residents after March 29th – Brexit Day

Proposal for a law to be submitted to parliament are centred around “the logic of reciprocity" with the treatment of Portuguese national’s resident in the UK serving as the template for the treatment of British residents in Portugal.

A warm weekend is on the cards as temperatures are set to rise to between 20 and 26 degrees Celcius over mainland Portugal.

The Portuguese weather service commented, "A gradual increase in the maximum temperature is expected in the coming days. At the weekend, the maximum temperature values ​​should vary between 20 to 26 ° C and between 17 to 20 ° C in the interior regions of the North and Centre.”

Alcoutim Council is fully behind the local Festival of Contraband and is supporting the event for the third year running.

The Council has voted to shell out grants of €2,800 and €13,320 to the Associação de Desenvolvimento Etnográfico de Martim Longo and the Associação Água Ardente, Produções Teatrais.