The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated today that the significant strengthening of public investment in the current legislative period in interventions, maintenance and cleaning of water lines throughout the archipelago contributes to the safety of people and property, stressing that the ongoing works represent a global investment of 4.5 million Euros.

Speaking at the ceremony that marked the completion of the works in Testo stream and Grota do Tapete in Porto Judeu, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, Luís Neto Viveiros pointed out the allocation of nearly six million Euros for interventions in these areas in 2016.

"A significant part will be directed to the maintenance of the hydrographic network, which is nearly seven thousand kilometres" across the archipelago, the Regional Secretary said, adding that another significant part was allocated to necessary investments in different islands of the Region.

The interventions in Porto Judeu streams, amounting to 500 thousand Euros, were determined by the Government of the Azores as a result of the effects of storms that occurred in 2013.

Speaking to journalists, Neto Viveiros added that the rehabilitation works of São Bento stream in Angra do Heroísmo, the reprofilling of the stream bed and the resizing of the culvert in Grota da Chouriça in Ribeirinha are already taking place. The works represent an overall investment of 1.5 million Euros.

Moreover, the government official pointed out the rehabilitation work of Grota de Francisco Vieira in Raminho, an investment of nearly 550 thousand Euros, has already been awarded.

On the island of São Miguel, there are ongoing works in Grota da Areia in the village of Pilar da Bretanha, municipality of Ponta Delgada, an investment of 470 thousand Euros. The government official also announced the launch of the tender for the construction of the affluent diversion canal of Salto da Inglesa stream and the consolidation of the bed and banks of Salto do Fojo canal in the village of Furnas, municipality of Povoação. These works represent an investment of 1.5 million Euros.

Considering the damages caused by September and December storms in the municipalities of Nordeste, Povoação and Ribeira Grande, the Government of the Azores also decided to move forward this year with additional interventions in water lines in the three municipalities, with an estimated overall cost of nearly two million Euros.

On the island of Pico, the intervention in Dilúvio stream in Madalena is in the final phase, an investment of 200 thousand Euros. In 2016, the Government will launch the tender for the second phase and start the works in Prainha stream; the latter corresponds to an investment of 300 thousand Euros.
 
On São Jorge Island, the Government awarded the interventions work in Beira stream for the price of 240 thousand Euros. In turn, the rehabilitation works of the hydrographic network of Fajãzinha in Lajes das Flores are taking place, representing a public investment of nearly 1.5 million Euros.

In addition to the conclusion of the works in Porto Judeu streams on Terceira Island and the ongoing works on several islands, the Government of the Azores has concluded in the current legislative period important interventions in Faial da Terra and Ribeira Quente streams (Povoação), Santa Bárbara stream (Ribeira Grande) and Cabo da Vila stream (Lagoa), all located on the island of São Miguel.