Roma, gypsies and travelling people in Portugal

Plying the trade of water seller (eighty Galicians practised the trade in Setubal in 1821) was an activity regulated by City Hall, making it mandatory for water sellers to register before being granted a permit, giving them the Senate's coat of arms to display on their clothing, and a fire pump to be used in case of fire.

As they were accused of making money with little effort, the water sellers had to submit to strict regulations for governing their activities and for punishing breaches. Their behaviour and adherence to City Hall's sanitation conditions was overseen at the fountains and wells by a foreman to whom they had to pay an individual tax.

To the trade of water selling were attached two obligations, subject to heavy fines for non-accomplishment: assistance in the event of fire, and watering the two council's trees. It was mandatory for the water seller to be a fireman; those failing in this duty were placed under arrest, fined and expelled from the trade. According to the 1797 rules, at the end of the working day each water seller should return home with a full barrel, with which, plus his pump, he would present himself at the Praca do Sapal; the foreman acted as chief fireman. The water seller also had to water the public streets, including over 400 trees in 1820, during the summer. Although the task could have been performed by pack animals, they had to carry the water on their backs.