The Influence of Urbanisation on Groundwater Recharge and Discharge in the City of Évora, South Portugal

Urbanisation has had a major impact on groundwater beneath Évora, an ancient city in the south of Portugal. Land use change, notably the growth of impermeable surfaces, has led to a reduction in groundwater recharge. As the city has grown, impacts have increased. Understanding changes to the water balance are the first step in rationalising the use of groundwater. Currently groundwater is used largely for gardening and farming. In the oldest part of the city, within the city walls, groundwater is little used, while outside the city walls, groundwater usage is high. This study shows how the municipality can take advantage of groundwater to irrigate the majority of the public gardens instead of relying on filtered water from the Monte Novo Dam. This approach would also help solve the problem of pollution that occurs due to losses from the city’s sewage system.