Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos (DGSH) Profile

Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos (DGSH) Profile

Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Ciências Sociais

PT BUILDS

1884-present, Portugal

Rua da Murgueira, 9, Alfragide, 2610-124 Amadora

1884

Ministério das Obras Públicas

Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos dates back to the end of the 19th century, when Hydraulic Services was created, part of a division of the Ministério das Obras Públicas, Comércio e Indústria, known as Repartição de Estradas, Obras Hidráulicas e Edifícios Públicos. In spite of continuing as a divison, in 1892 the Hydraulic Services became part of the Serviços Internos of the Secretaria de Estados dos Negócios das Obras Públicas, Comércio e Indústria. In 1898 the Direção de Serviços Hidráulicos was separated from the Hydraulic Services, having been assigned to the Obras Públicas section of the Serviços de Engenharia Civil of the same ministry. This separation was confirmed in 1917, when the Hydraulic Services became the responsibility of the Ministério do Comércio and the Hydraulic Services Division came under the authority of the Direção Geral de Obras Públicas do Ministério do Fomento.

In 1919 this same Division is renamed Repartição de Serviços Hidráulicos, being in turn inserted in the Ministério do Comércio e Comunicações. The designation changes again when it is integrated into the Secretaria Geral do Ministério e dos Serviços de Obras Públicas of the same ministry, and is now known as the Administração Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos. This year also marks the geographical subdivision of this administration, divided into Douro, Mondego, Tejo and Guadiana. The 1920s introduced several offices to this administration, including the Ports Bureau, Electrical Services and Agricultural Hydraulics Services.

With the advent of the Estado Novo, the Ministério das Obras Públicas e Comunicações creates the Administração Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos e Elétricos, maintaining on the other hand some of the organizational structures of the previous institutions and the totality of the geographic distribution that the constitutional monarchy and the republic introduced in the logic of the of hydraulic infrastructures. In 1935 the designation changed again, being called the Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos e Elétricos. In addition to the territorial divisions already observed, it was created new sections, also geographically distinct, the sections of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra.

In 1947 this division takes on the name by which it became known nationally, Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos, being divided, in Maritime Services, Fluvial, with offices of construction, conservation, navigation and technical file, and, from 1949, on Hydraulic Use. In 1972 this direction remains intact, changing only the designation of the ministry, which is now called only the Ministério das Obras Públicas. The April 25 introduced new changes, with the Direção Geral dos Serviços Hidráulicos being inserted in the Secretaria de Estado dos Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento Básico, which, from 1977 onwards, became the Direção Geral dos Recursos e Aproveitamentos Hidráulicos. In addition to introducing a number of concerns, such as Pollution Control, a geographical division is introduced, the of South Section. In 1980 it is changed the terminology of the Ministry, from Ministério das Obras Públicas to Ministério do Plano e da Habitação e Obras Públicas.

It is in 1986 that the structure that until then was known changed dramatically. Two directorates are created, Direção Geral dos Recursos Naturais and Direção Geral de Qualidade do Ambiente, both inserted in the Ministério do Plano e da Administração do Território. The first one is responsible for the services of water resources management, and consequently the services of hydrology, and the second for the services of water quality. The geographical divisions become Norte, Centro, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (LVT), Alentejo and Algarve. Finally, in 1991, the Instituto da Água covered all the structures, which was integrated into the Ministério do Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais.