FCUP Students Explore Lever WTP to Understand Water Management

Visit to the Water Treatment Plant provided direct contact with operations and sector challenges.

Water treatment facility with students observing the process.
AI

Water treatment facility with students observing the process.

A group of students from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) visited the Lever Water Treatment Plant (ETA), in an initiative that provided direct contact with the operation of water treatment for human consumption in the Greater Porto region.

The initiative, led by João Ferreira, Exploration Coordinator – Production, offered future professionals insight into the activities of Águas do Douro e Paiva and the complexities of bulk water supply in the region.
During the visit, students learned about the main stages of the treatment process, the technical, operational, and environmental challenges, and the facility's functioning. In the Control Room, they observed real-time monitoring and control systems ensuring efficient management.
The COCODAFF system (Counter-Current Dissolved Air Flotation and Filtration), a cutting-edge technology used in Lever for effective water treatment, was also presented.
This visit served as a bridge between university education and the reality of the water sector, offering FCUP students a practical perspective on the processes and technologies involved in producing drinking water.
Based on information from the official source: Águas do Douro e Paiva (29/09/2026)