a competition was held in 1880, by the municipal water authority of porto, under the direction of antónio pinto de magalhães (then president of câmara municipal of porto). this resulted in an 1882 contract with the only submeter, the "compagnie générale des eaux pour l'etranger". a decree was issued on 17 july 1882, which elaborated the and approved the provisional contract, which was promulgated on 27 july.