This Decree-Law establishes the legal regime governing AdP AQUA – Environmental Management of Water Resources (Gestão Ambiental de Recursos Hídricos, S.A.) as the central entity responsible for implementing the national water management strategy «Água Que Une». The Decree-Law aims to promote a new paradigm of integrated, efficient, and resilient water governance in Portugal, addressing water as a strategic national resource. It emphasizes the need to respond to climate change impacts, such as increased water scarcity and extreme events, by improving planned and coordinated management of water resources for multiple uses, including human consumption, agriculture, industry, and tourism. The framework seeks to enable investments that enhance water efficiency, strengthen climate resilience, promote the use of non-conventional water sources, and accelerate digitalization in the water sector. In operational terms, the decree-law assigns AdP AQUA broad powers to plan, finance, construct, manage, and operate hydraulic and hydro-agricultural infrastructure, including multipurpose projects and climate resilience facilities. It aims to ensure effective coordination and execution of the strategy through streamlined governance, including the authority to manage public assets, conduct expropriation processes, and oversee project implementation. The decree also establishes mechanisms for administrative coordination, such as procedural conferences involving relevant public authorities, to facilitate environmental assessment and accelerate decision-making. Overall, the main objective is to create an institutional and operational framework capable of ensuring water security, supporting sustainable territorial development, and enabling an integrated, forward-looking approach to water resource management.
Португалия · 2026-06-24