The residents of Vila Real de Santo António are bracing themselves for water supply price hikes after the Council signed away the water supply and sanitation services to a private company.
As from January 1st, 2019, Aquapor will control water and sewage services in this eastern Algarve Council with a budget of over €52 million.
The initial contract is with a new company, Águas de Vila Real de Santo António, which is to become part of the Aquapor group.
The company will pay €46 million to the municipality and will invest €6.5 million in the renewal of water supply and sewage pipe networks and in strengthening control over supply services.
This new company won an international competition launched by the Vila Real de Santo António Council. It is part of the Aquapor Group which has been operating 30 years and has controls 14 national and international concessions covering more than 1.3 million inhabitants.
An Aquapor Group spokesman commented, "Águas de Vila Real de Santo António is making a firm commitment to the future of the county with the guarantee of a high quality service to its clients that is essential to the well-being of the population and the efficient use of resources."
Aquapor may sound exotic but it’s a company owned by Águas de Portugal and was set up in 1997.