It was worth believing

When I was young, this land was not like this. There wasn’t this green, this life, this abundance. There was silence… a heavy silence, of dry earth and postponed dreams. I’ve been walking these paths for decades. And I remember well how it was before Alqueva The land cried out for water. Families longed for a future. The drought was harsh, relentless… … it felt like fate. People spoke of solutions, and we dreamed. … but it all always seemed so distant, so difficult, almost impossible… Alqueva is now a project of national scale, designed to transform generations. EDIA has taken on this mission: to design, build and manage a project carried out with precision, engineering excellence, and a deep commitment to the region. With the arrival of water, the Alentejo was reborn. Once arid lands have been transformed into productive fields. Farmers have invested, businesses have grown, and new crops have emerged. And the region has gained economic and social vitality. Today, Alqueva supplies thousands of hectares, promoting efficiency, sustainability and innovation, creating wealth for the country. But Alqueva is much more than just agriculture. It is water security. Cities, towns and villages that once lived with uncertainty now have guaranteed access to water. The connection between Alqueva and other dams ensures supply to populations, industry and economic activities, strengthening the territory’s resilience to drought. Committed to the future, EDIA has combined hydroelectric power generation with land -based and floating photovoltaic systems, reinforcing the project’s sustainability. The energy produced helps offset the system’s consumption, reduces emissions and positions Alqueva as a national benchmark for innovative solutions. Tourism in Alentejo has gained new life: river beaches, boat tours, stargazing, and visitor areas that reveal the history and transformation brought by Alqueva. The human dimension is reflected in EDIA’s areas, where knowledge is shared, sustainability is valued, and the memory of the territory is preserved. At the Alqueva Centre, immersive experiences and interactive models explain the system’s engineering, water distribution, energy production, and overall operation. At the Luz Museum, the memory of the former submerged village is brought back to life, the transformations of the landscape and the lives of the local community are documented, and visitors are invited to reflect on identity, memory and the future. . At the Noudar Nature Park, holm oak landscapes, biodiversity, and nature tourism experiences bring visitors closer to the environmental richness of Alentejo. EDIA manages one of the largest and most complex hydraulic systems in Europe. All based on a single principle: precision. Precision in construction. Precision in infrastructure maintenance. Precision in efficient water management. Control is continuous. Monitoring is constant. The transformation of the territory could not exist without respect for the environment and heritage. EDIA has developed environmental monitoring programs, restoration of watercourses, habitat preservation, and impact mitigation. It has also carefully overseen the safeguarding of archaeological, historical and cultural heritage, with more than 2,000 interventions. Because every stone, every trace, every species tells the story of this territory. Today I walk through here and see a living Alentejo. I see work, I see a future, I see pride. And I think: it was worth believing! Credits: Text and Script: Elisabete Barroso Voiceover: Tiago Caetano Production: Outro Mundo – Film Production