Securing a Sustainable Water Supply for São Tomé


São Tomé City Water Supply System

São Tomé is strengthening its water supply infrastructure to provide greater and more reliable access to safe drinking water for the city and its surrounding peri-urban areas. Promoted by EMAE and financed by the European Investment Bank and the European Union, the project combines the rehabilitation and optimisation of existing infrastructure with new solutions designed to meet the population’s water needs sustainably over the coming years.

The project covers the assessment and detailed design of the infrastructure required to increase water production, storage, transmission and distribution capacity. Key interventions include the optimisation of existing water intakes to reduce water losses, the development of a hydraulic model of the supply system and hydrological studies for the installation of a new hydrometric station on the Ouro River to monitor available flows. The project also includes an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and an Environmental and Social Management Plan.

Key numbers

Market

PT+MEA

Sector

Sustainable Cities

Services

Sustainability and Environment

Engineering

Construction Supervision and Owner’s Engineer

Location

São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe

Year

2025

Status

Ongoing

Client

EMAE – Empresa de Água e Electricidade

At the core of the project is the rehabilitation and expansion of São Tomé’s water supply infrastructure, supported by detailed hydraulic, hydrological and environmental studies. The scope includes optimising existing water intakes, developing a hydraulic model of the supply system and designing a hydrometric station on the Ouro River. Following the design phase, the consortium will also support EMAE in evaluating construction bids and supervise the works, providing technical continuity through implementation.