Recent rains have eased Algarve drought crisis
Algarve farmers are clamouring to see restrictions on water consumption eased now that the level of reservoirs has risen following recent rains.
João Garcia, from the Association of Irrigators and Beneficiaries of Silves, Lagoa and Portimão, and Macário Correia, from the Association of Beneficiaries of the Eastern Algarve Irrigation Plan, tell Lusa that the Algarve’s reservoirs have more water than at the beginning of the year – when reductions were imposed on consumption in agriculture (25%) and urban sector/ households (15%).
Garcia recalls that contingency measures have actually been in place for the last two years in his western Algarve irrigation area; in November “the taps were turned off”. Since then farmers “haven’t used a litre of water”.
The rains in January, February and the last few days of March have created a “different reality” from the one that led to these restrictions: “a lot of water has been restored“, he stresses.
“In this sense, our expectations are that now, during the month of April – and as was agreed by APA (the Portuguese Environment Agency) that during the first week of April contact should take place with associations to re-evaluate cuts – we should meet as soon as possible to make more water available“.
Garcia considers that the rainfall recorded in recent weeks brings “a completely different perspective” to the one that was the basis of the cuts applied and farmers of Silves, Lagoa and Portimão now hope to be able to “have more water” and “safeguard production”, which is jeopardised if restrictions remain.
Macário Correia, representing farmers at the other end of the region, also argues that we are now looking at a “completely different scenario”. There is room to review restrictions, “while maintaining the focus on water efficiency” (something of an oxymoron here, as lack of water efficiency is the region’s great problem).
Macário Correia told Lusa that measures applied in the eastern irrigation district have reduced consumption by 27 %, compared to the same period last year, and thanks to recent rainfall, “it won’t be necessary to water on a regular basis in the coming weeks”, except for when it comes to fertiliser irrigation.
Water stored in local reservoirs is the same as it was this time last year, and, in the coming weeks, streams will bring even more water to the reservoirs, he said.
Efforts to manage water well and avoid waste must continue, because the “Algarve has not gone from scarcity to abundance”, but the former mayor of Tavira considers that “the measures that were designed in January don’t make sense right now“.
Source: LUSA
