An average household in Mainland Portugal pays, on average, €34.65 per month for water supply, wastewater sanitation and urban waste management services. The data, released by the Regulatory Authority for Water and Waste Services (ERSAR), are based on tariffs reported by the managing entities up to June 2026.
In 2026, the average tariff burden for households for a domestic consumption of 10 m³ is €34.65, of which €14.04 correspond to water supply, €11.26 to wastewater sanitation and €9.35 to urban waste management. As this is a weighted average for Mainland Portugal, the amount actually borne by users varies according to the municipality, the managing entity, the applicable tariff and the consumption profile.
This value corresponds to the set of essential services that ensure the capture, treatment, transport and distribution of water for human consumption, as well as the collection and treatment of wastewater and the management of urban waste.
The evolution of tariff charges for a reference monthly consumption of 10 m³ shows that the average monthly charge rose from €24.00 in 2017 to €34.65 in 2026.
Considering the value for 2026, water supply represents 41% of the average monthly charge, wastewater sanitation 32% and urban waste management 27%.
The information concerns the monthly charge per municipality for the provision of water supply, wastewater sanitation and urban waste management services to domestic users, calculated from tariffs reported to ERSAR up to June 2026 by the managing entities, and weighted by the number of households in the geographical area of each managing entity.
Information available to consumers
“The charges associated with water and waste services reflect a set of essential public services, indispensable to protecting public health, the environment and the quality of life of populations,” says Vera Eiró, Chair of the Board of ERSAR, adding: “Information is an essential regulatory instrument. By publishing these data, ERSAR promotes transparency, strengthens knowledge about the evolution of tariff charges and contributes to greater user trust in water and waste services.”
According to current legislation, tariffs are available on the websites of the managing entities and can also be consulted on ERSAR’s website, via the Search by municipality function. On ERSAR’s website you can also consult an infographic with the tariff charges by municipality where tariff charges can be compared among different managing entities.
