Useful journalism to understand, manage and grow a business.
SearchThe tender to build the new WWTP in Barcelos sets an execution period of 910 days. The infrastructure, designed to treat urban and industrial wastewater, has an announced European aid of approximately 25 million euros.
The Barcelos City Council has opened a public tender to build a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), with a budget of 35.4 million euros. The announcement was published in the Diário da República on October 6, according to Observador on that same day. Interested companies could submit their bids until October 23; the planned period for executing the works is 910 days from the award.
The project will be built in the parish of Vila Frescainha São Pedro and will replace the current facility, which has been operating since 1999. The municipality describes it as technically obsolete and with limited capacity in the face of demographic, urban, and industrial evolution in the municipality. The opening of the tender initiates the contracting of the work: it does not equate to the award of the contract nor does it confirm that the works have begun.
The opening of the procedure culminates a previous phase: in August, ECO and Braga TV reported that the municipal executive had approved launching the international tender. In that coverage, it was indicated that the operation exceeds 35 million euros and counts with nearly 25 million in support from the European Union, within the framework of the regional program Norte 2030. This figure corresponds to the aid announced for the project; the available sources do not detail here the final cost distribution or possible variations during the contracting.
The procedure documentation contemplates the construction of the station and its auxiliary infrastructures, with civil works, hydraulic circuits, equipment, and electrical and telecommunications installations. The new WWTP is designed to treat both domestic wastewater and industrial effluents. According to the municipality, around 35% of the flows currently received would be of industrial origin, mainly from textile dyeing plants, whose dyes and organic compounds can be difficult to degrade.
The announced design combines a biological process with complementary treatments. The biological phase would use microorganisms to reduce pollution; afterwards, fine filters and ozone would help eliminate color and other persistent pollutants associated with textile effluents. The municipal explanation presents these solutions as means to reach the legal water quality parameters, not as already verified results: the installation still needs to be built and put into operation.
The project also plans to reuse water within the station, utilize some by-products, and produce energy for self-consumption through solar panels and a small hydroelectric plant at the outlet of the treated water. The municipality estimates that, once operational, the infrastructure will effectively serve more than 73,000 people connected to the network. This is a forecast linked to the start of operations, not a coverage already achieved.
The treatment plant will return the treated water to the Cávado river, in an environment that, according to municipal information, is part of the Natural Park of the Northern Coast. The City Council considers that reducing the pollutant load will contribute to improving water quality and protecting local habitats. The actual scope of these benefits will depend on the operation of the installation and must be assessed once it enters service.
The date of publication of the tender, the amount of 35.4 million euros, the deadline for bids, and the execution period are attributed to the information published by Observador on October 6. To contextualize the previous stage, the coverages by ECO and Braga TV of August 5 regarding the municipal approval of the tender and the announced European aid were taken into account. These news items correspond to different moments of the procedure and are not presented as independent coverage of the October publication. The technical characteristics and environmental forecasts are attributed to the municipality as they appear in the consulted information.
The 80th Ordinary General Assembly of Sancor Cooperativa de Seguros Limitada renewed its Board of Directors. The authorities of Prevención ART, Prevención Salud and the Fundación Grupo Sancor Seguros were also appointed.
Read story
The proposal would allow certain companies to pay rates of 5% or 8.25%, compared with the general rate of 16.5%. Legislators doubt that a five-year period will influence long-term investment decisions; the government defends the targeted design and is considering renewing it if expansion continues.
Read story
Can Xue, Haruki Murakami, Gerald Murnane, and Thomas Pynchon are among the names most frequently mentioned ahead of the announcement. Lists vary by platform and do not reveal who the official candidates are.
Read story