The average water storage in the Algarve’s six dams is 67% of their total capacity, a percentage that reflects “the example of good management”, APA, Portuguese Environment Agency said today.
According to the APA’s provisional data for Tuesday (November 11), there has been an increase of around 172 hm3 (cubic hectometres) of stored water compared to the same period in 2024: 70 hm3 in Sotavento (corresponding to 41%) and 102 hm3 in Barlavento (corresponding to 59%).
“This is a very positive sign that reflects the impact of water management and saving measures implemented in the region,” APA president Pimenta Machado tells Lusa.
The volume of water stored in the six main reservoirs that supply the Algarve is 299 hm3 (cubic hectometres), which corresponds to 67% of total capacity, according to APA figures.
In the Sotavento (east), the Odeleite dam is now at 70% of its capacity (91.48 hm3) and the Beliche dam is at 68% (29.91 hm3).
In the western region, the Odelouca dam has 72% of its capacity (113.53 hm3), the Arade dam 42% (11.90 hm3), the Bravura dam 44% (15.44 hm3) and the Funcho dam 78% (37.23 hm3).
According to APA, comparing data from the start of the 2024 hydrological year, September 30 and Tuesday, there was an approximate increase of 168 hm3 of stored water: 71 hm3 in the western region (corresponding to 42%) and 98 hm3 in the western region (58%).
Pimenta Machado emphasises that the Algarve “must continue on this path of efficient and responsible water use, consolidating itself as a national example of good management of this essential resource”.
At the same time, he adds, “now is the time to implement projects” that will strengthen the region’s water resilience, “preparing the Algarve to face the challenges of the future safely and sustainably”.
According to Pimenta Machado, the improvement in water reserves is the result of a series of savings, efficiency and planning efforts.
However, he points out that this result “should be seen as an incentive to continue working on sustainable water management and investing in solutions that strengthen the region’s resilience”.
“The Algarve thus demonstrates that it is possible to protect water resources and ensure that there is a balance between development and environmental sustainability,” he concluded.
Source: LUSA
