Measures to increase water efficiency in the Algarve included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan are “a unique opportunity” to materialize “long-awaited” projects in the region, the president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) told Lusa.
Speaking to Lusa, António Pina considered that the measures now made public, some “defended and pointed out for years”, are “a unique opportunity” to implement projects considered to be structuring for the region.
“These are very important interventions for the territory in order to reduce and prevent water shortages, a problem that is cyclical and, increasingly, aggravated by climate change”, underlined the president of the body that brings together the 16 municipalities of the Algarve.
Showing his conviction that the Algarve's Regional Water Efficiency Plan “is carried out by 2026”, the president of the Chamber of Olhão also recalled that some of the measures contained in the plan come from proposals from the various regional entities.
“These are essential measures to guarantee and increase water efficiency in the Algarve and, naturally, we are delighted to have them included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan”, he concluded.
Placed on Tuesday for public consultation by the Government, the Recovery and Resilience Plan allocates an amount of 200 million euros for the implementation of the Algarve Regional Water Efficiency Plan.
According to the document, complementary and articulated measures aim to ensure the necessary resilience to the effects of climate change: around 40% of projects aim to increase water efficiency, 34% improve adaptation processes to drought, 15% contribute to environmental goals and 11% to improve articulation.
In this sense, plans will be implemented to reduce water losses in the urban sector, increase efficiency in the agricultural sector, increase the available capacity of reservoirs, promote the use of treated wastewater and the desalination of seawater.
After public consultation, Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PPR) has to be approved by the European Commission.
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