The article follows residents such as Maria Silva, Lourdes Lima, and Jorge Pinto, who grew up near these spaces and recall a time when the tanks were full of people on weekends, functioning as places for socializing and exchanging news—compared by Maria to the "Facebook of the past." Currently, the washing machine has replaced the stone, and the tanks are only occasionally used to wash rugs or larger items. Despite the reduced use, the four Parish Councils maintain responsibility for the conservation of these facilities, investing in cleaning, painting, and minor repairs, defending their historical, social, and identity value. Some local officials even intend to create tourist or educational routes around these century-old tanks, transforming them into living memory of a way of life that has profoundly changed.
Defesa de Espinho27/08/26, 15:00
