Short answer: Portugal has no single national retail water company. Follow the rules and tariff of the entity serving the municipality of the property.
Find the correct entity
Examples include EPAL in Lisbon, Águas e Energia do Porto in Porto, SMAS in Sintra, SIMAS in Oeiras/Amadora, AGERE in Braga and FAGAR in Faro. Confirm the entity on the municipality’s official website.
Application and handover
Identity, NIF, occupancy evidence, meter serial number and reading are commonly requested. Do not assume an unregistered tenancy is automatically rejected everywhere; check the local evidence list.
Understanding the bill
Water, wastewater and municipal waste items may appear. Consumption bands and fixed charges vary locally; never apply another municipality’s tariff to your address.
Estimates, leaks and disputes
Submit opening and closing readings. For abnormal consumption, check internal plumbing and request the entity’s written leak-review procedure.
Social and family tariffs
Eligibility and application vary locally. Check the provider and ERSAR.