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Portugal has seen significant progress in urban wastewater treatment in recent decades, but now faces new challenges related to energy efficiency, water reuse and environmental protection. The warning was issued by LNEC researcher Maria João Rosa during a debate on the water sector.

Portugal's investment in infrastructure was largely the result of the implementation of European directives requiring Member States to collect and treat wastewater before returning it to the environment, thereby protecting public health and ecosystems.

According to the researcher, wastewater treatment should now be viewed in a more comprehensive manner, within a circular economy and resource recovery approach. "Water is water, regardless of its origin. What matters is its quality and suitability for the use we want to make of it", she said.

Maria João Rosa explains that treatment plants have evolved and are no longer just infrastructure for eliminating pollution.

"Today, they are much more facilities for recovering water-related resources. They can produce energy, reuse treated water and recover nutrients such as phosphorus", she said.

Despite progress, the sector faces significant challenges. New European legislation requires higher levels of treatment, greater energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Another problem concerns what ends up in sanitation networks, from undue discharges to improperly disposed household waste.

The researcher therefore argues that, in addition to technology and investment, environmental literacy and citizen behaviour are essential to ensuring the sustainability of the water sector.

You can watch the full episode here.