Water for Human consumption
The quality of water for human consumption is controlled according to the national law applicable to the different types of water, to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation and, since 2007, to the specifications of the food safety certificate (ISO 22000) and “Water for Human Consumption in the High Level Public Supply System variant” certification, as per standard ERP 5001/1. Therefore, in addition to the legal analyses programme, there are also operational analyses plans that guarantee the quality of the water produced by Águas do Algarve, S.A.
Every day, the two Laboratories analyse a wide range of water quality indicator parameters. The Laboratory is equipped to analyse 99 physical/chemical parameters, 12 microbiological (bacteriological) and 2 biological.
Wastewater
Since 2005, the Águas do Algarve S.A. Laboratory controls the quality of wastewater treated in 50 wastewater treatment plants, for which the AdA is responsible and their respective receiving water resources.
This control covers compound sampling carried out for 24-hour periods, for physical/chemical characterisation and random sampling for microbiological characterisation. The sampling network includes 107 points distributed across 50 Wastewater Treatment Plants and respective receiving waters.
Seeing that Águas do Algarve, S.A. does not have a wastewater Laboratory, sampling and analyses are entirely subcontracted to external entities.
The Laboratory – Sanitation Area also participates in other assessment/optimisation programmes for wastewater treatment with a view to its reuse for irrigating green areas and golf courses.
