Why It’s Crucial to Follow Up on Your Water Bills: How You Can Take Control and Save

We all know that water is one of our most precious resources, especially in areas such as the Algarve.

Following a surge of complaints regarding the latest billing from the Municipality water company - we’ve decided to help you understand how your water bill is calculated and how you can protect yourself from unnecessary costs or increased water tiers.

It is especially important to understand the billing system and actively manage your water meter readings. Doing so not only helps you avoid unfair charges but also supports broader water-saving efforts.

Understanding the Water Billing System

Water bills are structured in ways that often catch consumers off guard:

• Fixed charges are applied even with zero water use. Known as tarifas de disponibilidade(availability tariffs), these fees cover maintaining the extensive infrastructure - pipes, sewer connections, treatment facilities - that serve all customers, regardless of how much water you use.

• Tiered pricing penalizes higher consumption. Water usage is split into brackets, known as escalões. The more water you use, the higher the price per cubic meter in the next tier. If the company estimates (leitura estimada) your usage inaccurately and places you in a higher tier, you end up paying significantly more.

• Waste and sanitation charges increase with water use. Beyond the water supply fee, your bill also includes related costs that scale with consumption, such as wastewater treatment and urban waste management. (Saneamento/ Residuos Urbanos)

Why You Should Take Charge: Checking Your Water Meter

In some months, particularly during the summer, the water company may estimate meter readings instead of using actual data.

While this practice is uncommon in many countries - especially given that automated water meters are designed to transmit accurate monthly consumption readings - it still occurs locally.

Unfortunately, this approach can lead to inflated bills. For example, if the company underestimates your usage one month, you may be moved into a higher, more expensive tier the following month.

Additionally, the price adjustments (known as acertos) applied over 61-day billing cycles often do not compensate for the fact that you are paying more per cubic meter in the higher tiers, especially if your bill were split - as it should be - over two months.

To protect yourself:

• Regularly check your water meter yourself. Take photos of the meter reading on or around your billing date.

• Send your own readings directly to Ambiolhão, if possible. This can prevent the company from estimating or overcharging.

• Keep records of your readings. This evidence will be invaluable if you need to dispute any charges.

How This Ties Into Water Conservation and Broader Issues:

• High water losses: Up to 49% of treated water doesn’t reach consumers in the Algarve, due to leaks and outdated infrastructure. This inefficiency forces water companies to invest heavily in repairs, costs, which, costs that inevitably affect consumers’ bills.

• Long-term debt: Many municipal water companies carry significant debts, especially to regional partners such as Águas do Algarve and ALGAR.

There are three important points we kindly encourage you to consider:

1. Continue practicing the water-saving best practices shared on our website to contribute to sustainable resource use.

2. Take ownership of your water meter readings by providing regular manual readings, rather than relying solely on automated meters that may not guarantee a consistent monthly reading.

3. Please note that the association does not condone the bypassing of water meters, and as previously communicated, the 3 owners that engaged in such practices are not recognized members of our association.

If you would like to receive an explanatory manual on how to calculate your water bill to verify its accuracy, please contact the Association.