Dear Editor,
Doomsday headlines continue:
- “Southern Portugal Desert Warning” (Nov 05, 2016 PT News)
- “Drought Affects 95% Of Country” (Aug 10, 2017 Algarve Resident)
- “Sahara Moving North” (Nov 25, 2017 PT News)
- “Rivers in Portugal Run Dry” (Nov 16, 2019 PT News)
- “Spain Insisting on Water from Portugal (Jan 18, 2024 PT News)
Aside 225+ articles found by putting “drought” into newspaper search boxes.
One scandal is Mira Dam Irrigation System which supplies 2,500 farmers from Vila Nova de Milfontes to Rogil.
40% of water drawn from Santa Clara is “lost” over 12,000 hectares.
It haemorrhages 2 MILLION litres an hour – since 2007.
Folk were unaware ‘til Público highlighted the shambles and started campaigning. But Mira isn’t the only irrigation scheme in Portugal gushing.
Beneficiaries must dig, mend pipes, clear ditches, repair culverts, fix leaks and be responsible.
Journalists trumpeting “drought will be the new normal” should name those in water management to solve an impending catastrophe, or shame them out of office. Or taxpayers will pay dearly.
And if nothing changes? Greater risk of wildfires and destruction to property and land. That’ll seriously affect precious tourism – where 70% rising of the Algarve’s GDP is created.
Another challenge is expansion of the ‘tropical climate zone’: added desertification of the Sahara, which will affect the Iberian Peninsula. Factor drought spells up to 8 years and arid climes similar to North Africa.
Anyone believing tourists will holiday in a bleak, parched, burnt-out dustbowl are deluded.
Time to stop crowing about “award-winning marinas, blue-flag beaches and golden triangles”, and press authority before much of southern Portugal becomes a moonscape.
Name and address supplied
