SIMARSUL marks 20th anniversary with conference in Barreiro

The Augusto Cabrita auditorium, in Barreiro, hosted, on March 27th, the first conference marking the 20th anniversary of SIMARSUL – Saneamento da Península de Setúbal, and which is part of the “Cycle of Conferences – 20 years of Treating the Future of Region” to celebrate the positive impacts of two decades of public sanitation service on the Setúbal peninsula and take stock, project and discuss future perspectives in close coordination with each partner municipality and closely with the community and SIMARSUL’s main stakeholders .

The conference dedicated to “Synergies for the Environmental Recovery of the Territory” was moderated by Carlos Maurício Lopes – former administrator of SIMARSUL in office from 2004 to 2013 – and included the following partners: Carlos Guerreiro, councilor of the Barreiro City Council, Luis Catarino, president of Arco Ribeirinho Sul, Susana Fernandes, administrator of the Tagus and West Hydrographic Region, Teresa Almeida, president of CCDR LVT (Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission), and Francisco Ferreira, president of Zero ( environmental association). The administrator of the Águas de Portugal Group, Alexandra Serra, and the president of SIMARSUL, Francisco Narciso, also participated.

The context that led to the creation of SIMARSUL was recalled, the local integrated strategy of the municipalities of Barreiro and Moita and the regional strategy of the municipalities of the Setúbal peninsula, as well as the main stages of the company’s creation leading to reflection on the synergies developed and future challenges.

Carlos Guerreiro, councilor of the Barreiro City Council, valued SIMARSUL’s contribution to “improving the quality of river waters”, and expressed “concerns about solutions for the territories of the Arco Ribeirinho Sul”.

Alexandra Serra, administrator of Grupo Águas de Portugal, highlighted “the trust of municipal partners, the competence of SIMARSUL workers, the convergence of regional and national objectives, the collaboration between partners and the commitment to overcome challenges and create solutions as critical factors of the success of this transformative regional project”, highlighting that “SIMARSUL’s organizational model of close cooperation with local authorities deserves recognition at national level and even inspires other regions of Europe and the world”.

Carlos Maurício Lopes, former Executive Administrator of SIMARSUL, recalled the conditions of environmental degradation, both in rivers and in the air, resulting from industrial activity, which marked the life of Barreiro for many generations, highlighting the project to create the ETAR Barreiro – Bush built by SIMARSUL. The official recalled “the difficulties that existed for decades in attracting European funds and with them making investments of great importance for the development of the region, a situation that only changed with the creation of SIMARSUL, which played a decisive role in improving environmental conditions and quality of life of the populations”.

Luis Catarino, President of the Board of Directors of Arco Ribeirinho Sul, highlighted that “structural works were carried out, which contributed to the depollution of the Tagus and Coina rivers”. In his opinion, in the future wastewater treatment and water supply system in the Arco Ribeirinho Sul territory, they must “be integrated into the municipality’s networks, a solution that is recognized as urgent, in the continuation of development measures in that territory” . The person responsible defended the imperative need to consider the future water supply, considered in a new model that serves the 9 municipalities of the Setúbal Peninsula.

Susana Fernandes, from the Portuguese Environment Agency, administrator of the Tagus and West Hydrographic Region, recalled that “SIMARSUL has always respected compliance with waste discharge standards, and has contributed decisively to the improvement of the region’s water environment”.

Teresa Almeida, president of the Board of Directors of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination Commission, warned of “the need to pay attention to the review of the PROT, which is ongoing, because this review has a central role in the cohesion of the territory , in social cohesion, in environmental matters, in the protection of environmental heritage and in the implementation of a development model”. The president of CCDR-LVT highlighted “the importance of creating NUT II, ​​which opens up a next cycle of opportunities, a context that requires the Setúbal peninsula to have its own strategy to attract European funds, involving public and private entities”.

Francisco Ferreira, president of Zero – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, highlighted that “the creation of the Tagus Estuary Reserve, and the Sado Estuary Reserve were of great importance in valuing biodiversity and preserving natural heritage, areas that are fall within the territories under the influence of SIMARSUL Action, and that this action has contributed to implementing environmental improvements”. The environmentalist pointed out “the importance of the European Ecological Pact, highlighting that it should influence all management in the area of ​​the environment” and considers that “there is a need for more information on the management of water resources and argued that conditions should be created so that in the estuary of the Tagus river there were bathing areas that could be visited with quality and not just continue with the areas that exist at the mouth”.

Francisco Narciso, president of the board of directors of SIMARSUL, highlighted the “undeniable success of the progress made in improving public health” during these 20 years, highlighting what “we are doing for a better future for the territory”.

“At a time when the Águas de Portugal Group marks its 30th anniversary and SIMARSUL its 20th anniversary, it is once again evident that not only do we have a history that has greatly contributed to changing the panorama of environmental performance in our country, but we are also very committed to the future, accelerating the circular water economy and climate action, ambitions that realize our purpose of making a difference in people’s lives, encouraging innovation for a more sustainable future. Hence our motto “20 Years Treating the Future.” “, highlighted Francisco Narciso.

SIMARSUL

SIMARSUL – Saneamento da Península de Setúbal, SA was created by Decree-Law 34/2017, of March 24, and is responsible for the management and exploitation of the multi-municipal wastewater sanitation system of the Setúbal Peninsula, on an exclusive and for a period of 30 years.

It is a public limited company with exclusively public capital, with as shareholders AdP – Águas de Portugal, SGPS, SA, representing the Portuguese State, and the Municipalities of Alcochete, Barreiro, Moita, Montijo, Palmela, Seixal, Sesimbra and Setúbal.

The investments made in the Multimunicipal Wastewater Sanitation System of the Setúbal Peninsula, over almost two decades, have contributed, in a decisive way, to the sustainable preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, to the improvement of water resources, to the valorization and circularity of water and reuse of associated resources, for the quality of life of the local population and for the promotion of development and regional competitiveness – making a difference in the lives of people and the territory.

SIMARSUL will continue investing in its Multimunicipal System within the scope of the ongoing investment plan for the 2017-2026 tariff period, namely in the completion of some subsystems, in the rehabilitation of infrastructure and in improving the efficiency and reliability of processes.