Expansion of the Porto Santo Desalination Plant
The Porto Santo desalination plant, vital for supplying water to the island, will undergo significant expansion starting in July. This expansion includes the construction of a fifth gallery which will increase the intake of water for desalination, as announced by the president of Águas e Resíduos da Madeira (ARM).
The investment in this expansion exceeds 5 million euros, partially funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). This project reflects the commitment of regional authorities to promote water sustainability in Porto Santo, a location where the resources of fresh water are scarce.
Since its inauguration in the 1980s, the desalination plant has employed reverse osmosis technology, becoming the sole source of potable water for public supply on the island. The plant has undergone several modernizations, including the merging and restructuring of its units 2 and 3 in 2017, aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of the produced water.
The desalination plant is located near the pier of Vila Baleira and plays a crucial role in water management on Porto Santo, an island that, due to its geography and climate, lacks significant natural resources of potable water. The expansion of seawater intake capacity is a strategic measure to ensure the island’s water autonomy, especially in light of the increasing population and tourism, which exert pressure on available resources.
In summary, the construction of the fifth gallery at the desalination plant represents a decisive step in strengthening Porto Santo’s water infrastructure. With financial support from the PRR and under the coordination of ARM, this expansion promises to ensure a sustainable increase in the production of potable water, essential for the socio-economic development and quality of life of the island’s inhabitants.
