Águas do Algarve
Águas do Algarve is the multi-municipal water and wastewater concession holder for Portugal's Algarve region, providing bulk water supply and sanitation services to all 16 municipalities and approximately 460,000-620,000 inhabitants as a subsidiary of Grupo Águas de Portugal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAlbufeira, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Águas do Algarve does
Águas do Algarve, S.A. is the multi-municipal water and wastewater concession holder for Portugal's Algarve region, operating as a subsidiary of the state-owned Grupo Águas de Portugal (AdP) holding company and headquartered in Faro. The company holds exclusive concession agreements with all 16 municipalities in the Algarve (including Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Portimão, Tavira, Loulé, Silves, and Olhão), providing bulk water supply and sanitation services to a population equivalent of approximately 460,000-620,000 inhabitants.
Its core technical assets include surface water treatment plants (ETA Alcantarilha with 259,000 m³/day capacity and ETA Tavira with 190,000 m³/day), the Odelouca dam and reservoir serving as the primary water source in conjunction with the Odeleite-Beliche system, a network of wastewater treatment plants (ETARs) including ETAR da Companheira and ETAR Faro-Olhão, water reuse (ApR) infrastructure at ETAR Quinta do Lago, Boavista, and Vilamoura, an accredited laboratory for water quality analysis, and mainland Portugal's first seawater desalination plant currently under construction following APA approval in 2026. The company is governed by ERSAR, Portugal's water and waste services regulator, and benefits from substantial EU co-financing under Portugal 2030, PO SEUR, Algarve 2030, and the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Revenue is generated primarily through regulated bulk-water tariffs charged 'in high' (wholesale) to municipal utilities under long-term concession contracts, supplemented by fees from treated wastewater (ApR) sold to golf courses and agricultural users, and EU-funded infrastructure investments. Pricing is set within ERSAR's regulated tariff framework and is not publicly disclosed. Customer relationships are predominantly B2G, with municipal governments as anchor counterparties, while end consumers are reached indirectly through municipal distribution networks.
Águas do Algarve firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Águas do Algarve
- Legal name
- ÁGUAS DO ALGARVE S.A.
- Website
- https://aguasdoalgarve.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Águas do Algarve is the multi-municipal water and wastewater concession holder for Portugal's Algarve region, providing bulk water supply and sanitation services to all 16 municipalities and approximately 460,000-620,000 inhabitants as a subsidiary of Grupo Águas de Portugal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Águas do Algarve industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water and Wastewater Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting) (AFACAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Irrigation Automation & Controls Services (SCADA, Sensors, Telemetry) (AFACAFAI), Commercial & HOA Irrigation Services (Large-Scale Systems) (HSAIAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Águas do Algarve is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albufeira
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Águas do Algarve business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Water Supply Concession Services: Revenue generated from multi-municipal water supply concession agreements with 16 municipalities across the Algarve region. The company provides bulk water treatment and distribution services to municipal utilities under regulated tariff frameworks established by ERSAR (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços de Águas e Resíduos).
- Wastewater Treatment Services: Revenue from municipal wastewater treatment services provided under multi-municipal sanitation concession contracts. Services include collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater for partner municipalities.
- Water Reuse (Água para Reutilização): Revenue from treated wastewater sold for irrigation of golf courses (Benamor Golf, Castro Marim & Country Club) and agricultural use. Contracts include ApR supply agreements for reuse applications.
- EU Funded Infrastructure Projects: European Union funding through Portugal 2030, POVT, PO SEUR, Algarve 2030, and Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) for water infrastructure investments including desalination plant, wastewater treatment upgrades, and system modernization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Regulated municipal bulk water tariffs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels13 records
Águas do Algarve product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Águas do Algarve is a multi-municipal water and sanitation concession holder that provides bulk water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, water reuse, and (under construction) seawater desalination services to 16 municipalities across the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It operates reservoirs, water treatment plants (ETAs), wastewater treatment plants (ETARs), an accredited water quality laboratory, and associated pipeline infrastructure serving a population equivalent of up to 620,000 inhabitants.
Product overview
Águas do Algarve is a multimunicipal water and wastewater utility company operating as part of the Águas de Portugal (AdP) group. The company manages an integrated system comprising water supply infrastructure (including the Odelouca dam/reservoir as primary source, water treatment plants, and distribution networks), wastewater collection and treatment through numerous ETARs, a seawater desalination plant under construction, and water reuse systems for golf courses and agriculture. The €74 million investment program focuses on infrastructure modernization, drought resilience, and sustainable water management. The company also operates an accredited laboratory and runs environmental education programs including the 'A Água e o Mar para Mim' art competition, H2OKids series, and 'Água Jovem' youth program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water Supply System (Sistema de Abastecimento de Água) Multi-municipal water supply service delivering treated drinking water in bulk (in high) to the 16 concession municipalities, supported by the Odelouca reservoir, the Odeleite-Beliche system, groundwater sources, and ETAs such as Alcantarilha (259,000 m³/day) and Tavira (190,000 m³/day).
- Wastewater Treatment System (Sistema de Saneamento de Águas Residuais) Collection and treatment of urban wastewater from concession municipalities through a regional network of ETARs, with discharge in compliance with EU Directive 91/271/CEE. Examples include ETAR da Companheira (inaugurated 2018) and ETAR Almargem (12,200 m³/day, 48,200 population equivalent).
- Sea Water Desalination Plant (Estação de Dessalinização de Água do Mar - EDAM) Seawater desalination infrastructure producing drinking-grade water to reinforce regional supply and address drought risk; first such plant on mainland Portugal.
- Water for Reuse (Água para Reutilização - ApR) Reclaimed wastewater product supplied to golf courses (e.g., Benamor Golf, Castro Marim & Country Club), agricultural operations, and urban uses under specific ApR supply agreements.
- Hydraulic Enterprise of Odelouca (Empreendimento Hidráulico de Odelouca) Strategic reservoir infrastructure in a Natura 2000 network area that supplies surface water to ETA Alcantarilha and other ETAs, providing primary water security for the region.
- Accredited Water Laboratory (Laboratório) Water quality testing and analysis service supporting operational compliance and regulatory reporting for the concession system.
Quantifiable outcome
- Water supply coverage for 620,000 population equivalent
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Águas do Algarve
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Águas do Algarve technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Águas do Algarve partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Grupo Águas de Portugal (AdP)coreParent company of the Águas de Portugal group, a national water sector holding company managing multiple regional water utilities. Águas do Algarve is a subsidiary within this group, benefiting from shared expertise, procurement scale, and coordinated investment programs across Portugal's water sector.
- Câmara Municipal de AlbufeiracoreOne of 16 municipalities served under multi-municipal water supply and sanitation concession agreement. Partnership involves bulk water supply, sanitation services, and collaborative investments in local water infrastructure.
- Câmara Municipal de FarocoreCapital municipality of Algarve served under multi-municipal concession agreement. Partnership includes major infrastructure projects such as ETAR Faro-Olhão construction.
- Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA)corePortuguese Environment Agency that approved the construction start of Portugal's first seawater desalination plant in the Algarve in April 2026. Provides regulatory oversight and environmental permitting for major infrastructure projects.
- ERSARcoreRegulatory Entity for Water and Waste Services that awards quality certifications, excellence prizes, and oversees tariff regulation and service quality standards for Portuguese water utilities.
- Universidade do Algarve (UALG)supportingRegional university collaborating on research projects, student dissertations related to water management, and educational programs. Master's thesis collaborations mentioned including 'Ciclo Urbano da Água' by Cátia Duarte.
- VORTALsupportingPublic procurement platform used for publishing tender notices and managing public procurement processes. Major infrastructure contracts advertised through this platform.
- Consórcio Oliveiras SA / Acciona Agua SAsupportingConstruction consortium awarded €13.9 million contract in 2016 for design and construction of ETAR Faro-Olhão wastewater treatment plant.
- Ciência VivasupportingScience promotion organization with which Águas do Algarve maintains partnership for summer science activities and environmental education programs.
- SEIVA - Semana da Educação e Iniciativas de Voluntariado AmbientalsupportingAnnual environmental education and volunteer initiative that Águas do Algarve participates in as a partner, supporting community environmental engagement activities.
- AMAL - Comunidade Intermunicipal do AlgarvesupportingIntermunicipal community of the Algarve region bringing together all 16 municipalities for coordinated regional planning and development initiatives.
- Benamor GolfsupportingGolf course receiving treated wastewater (ApR) from ETAR de Almargem for irrigation purposes under water reuse supply agreement.
- Castro Marim & Country ClubsupportingGolf resort receiving recycled water for irrigation, representing water reuse partnership supporting sustainable tourism sector.
- INATELsupportingNational Resort and Tourism Institute. Águas do Algarve concluded maintenance intervention at INATEL's water pumping station following detected occurrence during preventive maintenance.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Águas do Algarve competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AgdA - Águas Públicas do Alentejo: Alentejo region multi-municipal water utility under AdP. Operates the same concession model with ERSAR regulation, focused on water supply and wastewater treatment across multiple municipalities in a similarly drought-prone region of Portugal.
- Águas do Norte: Northern Portugal multi-municipal water and sanitation concession holder, also under the AdP group. Operates a comparable concession model serving multiple municipalities under ERSAR regulation — directly comparable business structure and revenue framework.
- EPAL - Águas de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo: Lisbon metropolitan water utility and AdP group subsidiary providing water supply and wastewater services under a multi-municipal concession. Direct functional peer with comparable scale, regulatory framework (ERSAR oversight), and concession-based business model.
- Águas de Santo André (AdP): AdP group subsidiary operating industrial and municipal water/wastewater systems in southwestern Portugal. Same concession structure and regulatory framework — smaller scale but highly comparable operational model.
- AdRA - Águas da Região de Aveiro: AdP group subsidiary operating the multi-municipal water supply and sanitation system in the Aveiro region. Same concession structure, same ERSAR regulatory framework, same EU-funded capex programs — a near-perfect operational twin.
- Águas do Centro Litoral: AdP group subsidiary managing multi-municipal water supply and sanitation in Portugal's central littoral region. Same concession model, same EU funding access, same regulatory regime — closely comparable in operations and scale.
Broad incumbents
- Veolia Water Technologies: One of the world's largest water and wastewater service operators with municipal concessions across Europe and globally. Comparable in regulated utility operations, water reuse, and desalination — much larger scale but operates under similar EU frameworks.
- Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water utility and services operator with municipal concessions across Europe. Comparable in regulated water utility operations, water reuse, and desalination, though at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Acciona Agua: Global EPC and concession operator for water infrastructure, partner of Águas do Algarve on the €13.9M ETAR Faro-Olhão design-build contract. Operates water treatment plants and concessions worldwide — broader scope but directly comparable on desalination and wastewater treatment technology.
Regional players
- FCC Aqualia: Spanish water utility operating municipal concessions across Spain and internationally, with strong presence in Iberia. Comparable in regulated multi-municipal concession model, wastewater treatment, and desalination — primarily competing in Spanish market but technologically adjacent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Águas do Algarve social profiles
Digital presenceÁguas do Algarve compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Águas do Algarve financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Águas do Algarve leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Águas do Algarve funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Águas do Algarve M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Águas do Algarve
What does Águas do Algarve do?
Águas do Algarve is a multi-municipal water and sanitation concession holder that provides bulk water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, water reuse, and (under construction) seawater desalination services to 16 municipalities across the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It operates reservoirs, water treatment plants (ETAs), wastewater treatment plants (ETARs), an accredited water quality laboratory, and associated pipeline infrastructure serving a population equivalent of up to 620,000 inhabitants.
Is Águas do Algarve a public or private company?
Águas do Algarve is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Águas do Algarve founded?
Águas do Algarve was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Águas do Algarve based?
Águas do Algarve is headquartered in Albufeira, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Águas do Algarve make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Water Supply Concession Services are the primary driver. The others are wastewater Treatment Services, water Reuse (Água para Reutilização) and EU Funded Infrastructure Projects.
Who are Águas do Algarve's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AgdA - Águas Públicas do Alentejo, Águas do Norte, EPAL - Águas de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Águas de Santo André (AdP), AdRA - Águas da Região de Aveiro and Águas do Centro Litoral. Broad incumbents are Veolia Water Technologies, Suez Water Technologies & Solutions and Acciona Agua. FCC Aqualia is listed as a regional player.
Does Águas do Algarve have an API?
No public API is recorded for Águas do Algarve.
What industry is Águas do Algarve in?
Águas do Algarve's product category is Water and Wastewater Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAFAM, Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting), with a secondary code of AFACAFAI, Irrigation Automation & Controls Services (SCADA, Sensors, Telemetry). Its NAICS code is 221310 and its SIC code is 4941.