Leiria’s Taps Flow Again After Storm Kristin – No Fee Hikes

The Portugal regional water utility Águas do Centro Litoral (AdCL) has fully reinstated water service across Leiria’s municipal network, ending several days of tap-shutoffs prompted by tempestade Kristin. Local households can now turn on their faucets without worrying about unexpected dry spells.

Why This Matters

• Water fully restored since 18:50 on 31 January after days of rationing and low pressure.

• Boil-water alerts were never issued, meaning quality remained within legal limits throughout the crisis.

• Generators will stay in place for at least 2 weeks, so brief pressure dips may still occur during refuelling cycles.

• No extra charges: AdCL confirms that January-February bills will not pass recovery costs on to consumers.

How the System Was Knocked Out

A perfect storm—literally—took shape when Storm Kristin flooded the Porto de Figueira pumping station, severed power supply, and triggered a theft-related outage at the Boa Vista treatment plant. With the backbone of the municipal network submerged, SMAS Leiria had little choice but to impose water rationing across the central city and surrounding parishes. Crews fought rising water and pressure drops that left many taps dry for portions of 28-31 January.

The Rapid Repair Playbook

AdCL’s field strategy relied on maintenance crews pulled from Leiria, Aveiro, and Coimbra working 24-hour shifts. Teams deployed high-capacity generators, reopened two dormant boreholes near Monte Redondo, and patched a rupture that emerged in Ansião. Meanwhile a newly installed digital telemetry platform fed real-time pressure data to control rooms, allowing engineers to shrink an 18-hour repair forecast into less than 12.

Ongoing Safeguards

Even with water flowing, the utility remains in contingency mode. Diesel generators still power captações, elevatórias, and the Paúl treatment plant. Continuous water safety tests track chlorine levels and pressure fluctuations, especially during peak hours. Residents can expect SMS alerts or call the 24-hour consumer hotline (800 201 600) if minute-long pressure dips resurface while crews refuel.

What This Means for Residents

• Expect full pressure at the tap, but run the water for 30 seconds if you notice air pockets or a temporary milky colour.• January’s bill adjustments will credit any estimated meter readings taken during the outage.• Report suspected leaks via the online portal or phone to minimise water loss.• No boil alerts are pending, yet signing up for the free SMS subscription keeps you in the loop should conditions change.

Next on the Agenda: A More Resilient Grid?

Leiria’s disruptions have nudged AdCL to accelerate a €900,000 upgrade of its telemetry overhaul for the Lis system. Plans on the table include rooftop solar arrays and battery storage at pump stations, plus redundant pipelines fitted with smart valves. The initiative is vying for an EU Resilience Fund tranche aligned with Portugal’s Climate Action Plan.

Background: AdCL’s Long-Term Footprint in Leiria

AdCL’s presence is not new. The Complexo da Mata do Urso, opened in 2016 after a €28.5 M investment, gave Leiria its first major alternative water source. In 2024, a further €3.9 M expanded the Paúl treatment plant with state-of-the-art remineralisation technology. A robust preventive maintenance programme aims to secure supply for a region experiencing steady regional growth and more frequent extreme-weather events.