As part of World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, Mota-Engil ATIV, in partnership with Mota-Engil ATIV Polska, participated in the international webinar “Let’s Focus on Water.” The event’s main objective was to raise awareness about the efficient management of water resources, presenting concrete strategies to reduce the water footprint in business activities.
During the session, Vanda Soares, Deputy Director of Production (Water and Industry), addressed the topic “How to Improve the Water Footprint,” highlighting case studies focused on water use efficiency and reuse. Her presentation emphasized the importance of adopting more sustainable practices in a context marked by climate change and increasingly frequent episodes of severe drought in Portugal.
Water efficiency has become a strategic priority, essential in both the public and private sectors. Companies from various fields are beginning to implement planned approaches to optimize water consumption, which involves more than just technology — it requires knowledge, rigorous monitoring, and concrete actions.
One of the first steps is to analyze where and how water is used, allowing the identification of losses and inefficiencies that are often invisible. Based on this diagnosis, efforts can be directed toward the areas with the greatest potential for improvement.
Practical examples include the reuse of treated effluents and rainwater for non-potable purposes, the implementation of closed-loop systems in industrial units, and awareness-raising actions among employees to encourage more responsible water use.
The key message is clear: freshwater is a finite and precious resource. Reducing the water footprint is not only an environmental imperative, but also a crucial factor for the resilience and sustainability of organizations and the country in the face of increasing water scarcity.
Mota-Engil ATIV’s participation in this event represented a valuable opportunity to strengthen the debate on sustainable practices and inspire other entities to adopt more responsible measures in water management.
