The Algarve is one of the regions of the country that is in a situation of severe to extreme drought according to IPMA, but the public water supply in the region is assured until the end of 2016.
According to Águas do Algarve, «despite the context of drought that has been manifesting in the mainland, in the Algarve the situation of water availability for public supply is still favorable, and the supply of public supply needs up to end of the 2016 dry period'.
This availability is verified despite the fact that the four reservoirs that supply the Algarve's Multi-municipal Water Supply System – Odelouca, Bravura, Odeleite and Beliche – «compared to the same period of the previous year» have not allowed «great increases in terms of percentage of water storage, with the exception of the Bravura dam reservoir which was close to reaching its maximum capacity'.
Águas do Algarve adds that «the situation in terms of surface water availability for public supply is more favorable in the Barlavento region, where consumption is also higher, and the situation of availability in Sotavento deserves closer monitoring throughout of the next wet period'.
The new hydrological year starts in October and, according to the company, there is "expectation to improve the water balance with greater inflows to the various reservoirs, given the various expected consumption and losses, and consequently the increase in the total availability of these reservoirs".
According to the note sent to the newsrooms by the company, this favorable situation results mainly from the construction of the Odelouca dam and its reservoir and the «existence of a multi-year and integrated management strategy for all the Water Sources of the Multi-municipal Water Supply System of the Algarve, whether superficial or underground».
Water consumption increased in 2015 in the Algarve
Water consumption in the Algarve increased compared to last year, and «in July 2015, a volume of 9.322.061 m3 of water was supplied by the Multi-municipal Water Supply System, 13,65% higher than the same month of the previous year of the previous year'.
According to Águas do Algarve, «all management entities in decline had significantly higher water consumption than in the same month, especially Loulé (25,6%), Portimão (19,6%) and Silves (13,3%) , Inframoura (17,0%), TaviraVerde (17,0%) and SGU, VRSA (16,4%)».
The company also highlights "the significant increase in water consumption in the municipalities of Castro Marim (19%), S. Brás de Alportel (35%) and Monchique, which tripled consumption, compared to the same month" in 2014.
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