The GNR sent the Public Prosecutor’s Office a report on Águas Públicas do Alentejo (AgdA) for pollution. This was done after they detected illegal discharges of wastewater into the water line and soil in the municipality of Vendas Novas.
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In a statement today, the Évora Territorial Command of GNR reported that in August, the SEPNA (Nature and Environmental Protection Service) of the Montemor-o-Novo Territorial Detachment identified a company responsible for illegal discharges at a wastewater pumping station in the municipality of Vendas Novas.
Findings from GNR Inspections
According to the GNR, SEPNA members from Montemor-o-Novo carried out several inspections. There they detected direct discharges into the water/soil line, without any type of mechanism to ensure purification.
The inspections resulted in four administrative offense reports being issued to the company. Furthermore, they were sent to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
However, following several subsequent inspections, it was possible to verify that the irregularities continued. Therefore, a report was drawn up for the crime of pollution and was sent to the Judicial Court of Montemor-o-Novo.
A source from the GNR clarified that the company targeted by the report is Águas Públicas do Alentejo (AgdA). He further revealed that they are responsible for managing the pumping stations and the Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETAR) in Alentejo municipality.
Previous Issues and Ongoing Problems
The GNR had previously addressed this matter on July 31, announcing that it had issued two administrative offense reports against AgdA. These reports were due to the irregular operation of two pumping stations in Vendas Novas.
At that time, the GNR reported that SEPNA members had inspected six pumping stations and found that two were discharging degraded water directly into the water/soil line without any purification mechanism.
The GNR source explained that, after the inspection, the company corrected one of the situations. However, the problems remained at the other pumping station. This led to the preparation of the report. The source highlighted.
It is not just because of the lack of capacity of the pumping station, it is also because there was a breakdown in a pump and the station is unable to drain the water to the WWTP”, which means that, “when it starts to get full, it lets the waste water out directly into a water line and onto the ground.
Mayor’s Response and Company Actions
At the end of July, the mayor of Vendas Novas, Valentino Salgado Cunha, said he was unaware of the causes of the discharges. He also indicated that sometimes there are ‘bypass’ situations. This means that, for some reason, the pumping stations may lack drainage capacity, causing some wastewater to be momentarily rejected into the water lines.
Moreover, the mayor explained that four pumping stations operate in sequence between the industrial park and the WWTP. He said AgdA had informed him that one of the pipes was obstructed, preventing the proper flow of wastewater.
The mayor highlighted.
What the company reported is that it is in the final phase of the public tender procedure for the replacement and repair of all pumping stations in Vendas Novas.
Still, despite this situation, the council wants the situation resolved as quickly as possible.
