Quercus warns of water‑security risk from proposed Lisbon airport

The environmental NGO Quercus has issued a strong warning about a technical report on the planned new airport serving Lisbon. The association says the project, proposed for the Alcochete area, threatens the largest aquifer of the Iberian Peninsula, which supplies drinking water to much of the Setúbal district. Quercus calls for an independent, transparent assessment of the airport’s location, emphasizing the need to protect public health, natural resources and territorial planning.

Quercus highlights several environmental concerns: destruction and fragmentation of habitats, pressure on sensitive ecosystems, impacts on bird life, increased noise and air emissions, and significant effects on water resources, landscape and biodiversity. The report estimates about 25 million m³ of excavation and 20 million m³ of fill, which would dramatically alter the natural topography, soil morphology and ecosystem functioning. The planned diversion of the Ribeira do Vale Cobrão river is also flagged as a major issue requiring thorough public scrutiny.