Portugal - Aqualex ProfilesFramework Law
The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Constitutional provisions
Date of text: 02 April 1976
Right to water: No provisions regarding the right to water.
Natural resources: Promoting the rational use of natural resources, while safeguarding their ability to renew themselves and ecological stability, with respect for the principle of inter-generational solidarity (Art. 66). In the economic and social field the state is under a State priority duty to adopt a national energy policy that preserves natural resources and the ecological balance, while promoting international cooperation in this domain and to adopt a national water policy that uses, plans and manages water resources rationally. (Art. 81).
Agriculture
Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Water Supply and Sanitation
Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Governance
The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Infrastructure
Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Date of text: 16 August 2005
Date of text: 07 February 2002
Water Resources Management and Water Rights
Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Water and Environment
Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
Date of text: 06 March 2014
Water Quality and Pollution Control
Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Groundwater
Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Date of text: 10 August 2009
Date of text: 16 August 2005
Disaster Resilience
Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Date of text: 23 August 2016
Transboundary Waters
Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Date of text: 24 September 2010
Date of text: 23 September 2010
Policies
Date of text: 05 September 2019
Date of text: 11 December 2014
Date of text: 10 December 2019