Local Social Democratic Party (PSD) politicians have accused Faro City Council of raising water prices at the start of the year, while calling for efficiency measures to avoid what it describes as unjustified increases.
This comes as authorities have announced some of the Algarve’s highest water levels in recent decades, owing to plentiful rainfall this winter.
In a statement, the PSD’s Faro District Political Committee criticised the municipality for the decision, arguing that it penalises local residents, describing the rise as a “raid” on citizens’ pockets. The party says efficiency measures should be implemented before any adjustment to tariffs is considered.
According to a press release sent to journalists, the PSD says the council has justified the increase on the grounds of the financial difficulties faced by Fagar, the municipal water company.
However, the party recalls that in 2023 the same Socialist Party (PS) mayor described previous price rises as unjustifiable and called for reductions, in line with recommendations from the Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR).
“Now, the party has radically changed its position, approving the increase and reneging on its previous stance,” the PSD alleges.
The PSD is calling for the rehabilitation of water pipelines and a reduction in losses without passing additional costs on to consumers. The politicians also point out that, in September, the government created a mechanism offering 100% non-repayable funding for water network projects in the Algarve.
“This is an opportunity that cannot be missed. Simply raising prices is neither a sign of know-how, nor of action,” the statement concludes.
Source: PSD
