Water Supply and FAGAR in the Algarve
How water reaches your tap and how billing works
Water supply in the Algarve is managed through a two-tier system. Aguas do Algarve, a public company, handles bulk water production and distribution from the region's reservoirs and treatment plants to the municipal networks. Individual municipal companies or departments then distribute water to homes and businesses within their areas and handle billing.
In Faro, the municipal water utility is FAGAR (Faro, Gestao de Aguas e Residuos), which supplies water, manages wastewater treatment, and handles waste collection within the Faro municipality. Other municipalities have their own utilities or contract the service to private operators. The names and structures vary, but the basic model is similar: treated water from Aguas do Algarve enters the municipal network and is distributed to customers through metered connections.
Water quality in the Algarve meets EU standards and is safe to drink from the tap. The water is treated and tested regularly. The taste can vary by area; some residents detect a slight chlorine or mineral flavour, which is a function of the treatment process and the source water rather than any safety concern. Many households supplement tap water with filtered or bottled water for drinking, though this is a preference rather than a necessity.
Water bills are issued monthly or bi-monthly, based on metered consumption. The billing structure uses a rising block tariff, meaning the per-unit price increases as consumption rises. This is designed to encourage conservation, with the first block (covering essential domestic use) charged at a lower rate and higher consumption blocks charged progressively more. A typical household water bill in the Algarve, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and waste collection charges, ranges from 30 to 80 euros per month, depending on consumption.
Properties with gardens, swimming pools, or irrigation systems will have significantly higher water bills, particularly during the dry summer months. The rising block tariff means that high-volume use is expensive. Some property owners install separate meters for garden irrigation supplied from borehole water (furo), which is exempt from the municipal tariff but requires a licence from the APA or CCDR.
Boreholes are common on rural and suburban properties, providing untreated groundwater for irrigation and sometimes for domestic use. Drilling a borehole requires a permit, and the water must be tested for quality if it is to be used for drinking. Groundwater levels in the Algarve have fallen in recent years due to drought and over-extraction, and restrictions on new boreholes have been introduced in some areas.
Water supply interruptions are infrequent in urban areas but can occur in rural locations, particularly during the summer when demand peaks. Planned maintenance works are usually announced in advance by the municipal utility. Keeping a reserve of stored water is prudent for rural residents.
The management of wastewater is handled alongside water supply by the municipal utilities. Wastewater from properties connected to the sewerage network is treated at municipal treatment plants before being discharged or, increasingly, recycled for irrigation of green spaces and golf courses. Properties not connected to the mains sewer, common in rural areas, rely on septic tanks (fossas septicas) that must be emptied periodically by licensed operators.
The quality of the water distribution infrastructure varies across the Algarve. Urban areas generally have modern pipe networks with low leakage rates. Older rural systems may have higher losses and occasional pressure issues, particularly at the ends of long distribution lines. Investment in network renewal is ongoing but competes with other municipal spending priorities. For residents experiencing persistent water quality or pressure issues, contacting the municipal utility is the appropriate first step.