Water is one of the natural resources most affected by climate change.

• Installation of flow reducers in public facilities.

• Municipal facilities and buildings have signs alluding to water saving, as well as devices that enable this (e.g. flow reducers).

• Creation of macro Metering and Control Zones (MMCZ) and Controlled Pressure Zones (CPZ) and sectorisation of the municipal water distribution network into MMCZ and CPZ, which allows for better water management in the supply networks and facilitates the detection of water losses.

• A study for the hydraulic optimisation of the municipal water distribution network, including an assessment of the network’s overall pressure in order to minimise losses in pipes and ruptures caused by excess pressure in the supply networks.

• Implementation of telemetry and remote management systems.

• Renewal of the meter fleet, installation of smart meters and analysis of ‘zero consumption’.

• Acquisition and installation of smart meters in all the municipality’s green spaces and gradual replacement of drinking water used for irrigation with reused water.

• Gradual conversion of the vegetation cover in public green spaces through the use of native species and/or species adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions and covering with inert materials (which allow the soil to retain more moisture).

• Use of alternative water sources for non-priority urban uses such as irrigation and washing.

The Municipality of Loulé is one of the signatories of the “Declaration of Commitment for Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change in Water Services”, an initiative promoted by the Portuguese Water Distribution and Drainage Association, which aims to help make the sector more efficient and better prepared for future challenges, ensuring the fulfilment of the right to water and sanitation for generations to come. So far, around a hundred institutions have signed this declaration, including local authorities, management entities, the Portuguese Environment Agency and the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities.

Discover the declaration of commitment here (PT).

As part of the Priority Action “Reuse of Water from Municipal Swimming Pools” of the Loulé PMAC, and with the technical and scientific advice of the University of the Algarve’s Higher Institute of Engineering, the main objective of the “Na Piscina Cuidamos da Água” Project (in english "In the Swimming Pool We Take Care of the Water Project") is to study the potential for utilising the volumes of water rejected daily from municipal swimming pools and the possible solutions for reusing them for non-priority uses, in situ or in the vicinity of these facilities, based on principles of circularity and low GHG emissions. This project also involves a strong component of awareness-raising and training for pool staff and users, as well as the installation of equipment and devices that enable and promote water saving.

Watch the video about the project here (PT). 

Loulé Secondary School, EB 2,3 Padre João Coelho Cabanita (Loulé) and Cândido Guerreiro Professional School (Alte) were awarded prizes in the 1st edition of the “Water Efficiency in Schools” competition, organised by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA-ARH Algarve), with joint applications from the schools and a multidisciplinary team from the municipality. The three winning applications totalled €30,000, which is being used to implement water efficiency measures in schools, in conjunction with teachers from the three educational establishments, including a project to reuse treated wastewater in one of them.

Installation of a wastewater treatment system at the E.B. 2,3 Padre João Coelho Cabanita School (Loulé), with a capacity of around 4 m3/day, to utilise the ‘water for reuse’ (ApR) produced in the changing rooms for watering green spaces. The valorisation and use of what would otherwise be waste will have a dual function here. On one hand, this system will make it possible to use an alternative source of water, but one that is perfectly suitable for the use intended, helping to reduce the school’s consumption of water from the public distribution network. On the other hand, the fact that the school community is involved in reusing water will raise awareness of the growing - and worrying - trend towards water scarcity in our region and the need to take a different look at this precious resource and the ways in which it is used in daily life.

The “Jardim das Comunidades” Project (in English “Community Garden” Project) is a pilot project developed in partnership with the University of the Algarve and based on the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for restoring and improving the ecosystem services of this public space, including solutions for storing rainwater for later use in watering the green spaces, improving water quality and optimizing water management measures (including the creation of an area for recharging the aquifer). This project also includes the creation and/or maintenance of biodiversity-promoting habitats in the urban environment, the installation of small cork structures which harbour macrophytic plants to remedy excess nutrients in the water and improve carbon sequestration (in conjunction with terrestrial vegetation) and serve as nesting sites for birds. The use of renewable energies and a reduction in the application of phytopharmaceuticals are other measures that will improve the ecosystem services of this urban green space. Also noteworthy is the socio-economic component of the project, with initiatives to raise awareness, train and involve the population and develop a sense of belonging to this public green space.

Together with six other Portuguese municipalities (Águeda, Lagoa- Açores, Mértola, Oeiras, Oliveira de Frades and Ponte de Sôr) and with Laboratório da Paisagem (Guimarães) as its lead partner, Loulé is part of the "CAPT2 - Circularidade da Água: Por Todos e Para Todos" Network (in english “CApt2 -Circularity of Water: By All and For All” Network), a project resulting from an application to the National Circular Cities Initiative (InC2) of the Directorate-General for Territory, and which aims to:

• Promote the integration of water reuse in the planning and management of water resources;
• Encouraging the adoption of best practices by supporting innovation and investment and developing actions that promote the transition to a circular economy;
• Promote integrated, effective and participatory management of the Urban Water Cycle.

The aim of the project is to define a Local Integrated Action Plan (PLAI) on the circularity of water in urban environments, developed in co-creation with local players and supported by experts.

For more information go to the project site and see the Loule PLAI here.

The “Aqui Cuidamos da Água” campaign (in English “Here we care for the water“ campaign) aims to raise awareness of the urgent need to save water and use this resource rationally and sustainably, not only during the dry season, but throughout the year. The “Aqui Cuidamos da Água“ campaign is intended to be the result of an ongoing process, built with everyone’s input and participation.

For this, the campaign’s website (www.aquicuidamosdaagua.pt) offers videos and a set of practical, simple and intuitive tips and suggestions on how to take better care of water throughout its urban cycle (collection, treatment in a WTP, storage, distribution, use, treatment in a WWTP and release into the natural environment).

Watch the campaign video here.