The data were released by the Azores Water and Waste Services Regulatory Authority (ERSARA), the Regional Government of the Azores said in a press release, in which it stressed that “the Azores have been experiencing a trend in the improvement of the quality of water for human consumption over recent years”.

In 2019, “full compliance with the regulatory sampling frequency” was maintained and there was “a slight increase in compliance with the parametric values, compared to the previous year”.

This year ERSARA awarded the “Seal of Water Quality for Human Consumption” to the Lagoa, Ribeira Grande and São Roque do Pico municipal councils, as well as to the municipal company Praia Ambiente, of Praia da Vitória, the Municipal Services (SM) of Angra do Heroísmo and the Municipal Services of Water and Sanitation (SMAS) of Ponta Delgada.

“In the remaining municipalities, and despite not obtaining this distinction, the water is, in general, of the highest quality at a national level, not presenting any risk to public health”, adds the press release.