On 25 November 2006, the spaces surrounding the aqueduct were requalified (between the monastery of Santa Clara and "Rua da Lada"), authored by architect Manuel Maia Gomes, who received the "Alexandre Herculano National Architecture Award" by the "Associação Portuguesa dos Municípios" (APMCH), the "Portuguese Municipal Association". Yet, although the structure was legally protected in 1910, several arches fell as recently as December 2009 and the destroyed arches were not recovered. This problem mostly affects the area of the monument located in Póvoa de Varzim, due to lack of maintenance, a responsibility of the national government.