Human water consumption in the Algarve, in July, was «higher» than in the same month last year, something that «worries us», he told the Sul Informação the Secretary of State for the Environment. The savings campaign, which the Águas do Algarve company is running, is not yielding the desired results and the fault is “the heat”.
Hugo Pires was this Tuesday, August 1st, in the Algarve, where he participated in a monitoring meeting on water consumption, in which «we sat at the same table, various agents, economic sectors and public administration in the Algarve», he said. the ruler.
In the afternoon, the Secretary of State visited São Brás de Alportel, to learn about some of the Municipality's investments in water efficiency, and it was there that he spoke with the Sul Informação.
According to the official, the Algarve is experiencing a situation «that should concern us all».
«To get an idea, in the last 20 years, water availability has decreased by 20% in Portugal and the Algarve is the region most affected by this shortage», he said.
For the Secretary of State, there are «sectors that concern us» and where we have to «reduce» consumption, such as the case of agriculture, where water consumption has already been reduced «10 to 12%».
As for human consumption, which had also already seen a reduction, the opposite trend was observed in July.
«We had information that, in July, human consumption of water increased in the Algarve compared to last year and that is something that worries us», revealed Hugo Pires.
Even so, in general, according to the official, there has even been "a decrease in human consumption" and also in spending "on agriculture and golf".
«Generically, there is a decrease, but we also have to monitor the availability of water that exists», he said.
Asked whether it would be possible to take new restrictive measures, after the closure of municipal swimming pools in coastal areas had already been decreed, the reduction of watering days and the cessation of watering public green spaces with lawns, the Secretary of State referred to the future.
«For now, we are going to evaluate and study the information we have had and we will have an intergovernmental meeting, of the Drought Commission, at the end of the month», he concluded.
Since the beginning of July, a national savings awareness campaign has been running, called “Water is life – don't waste it”.
This initiative, which was even launched in the Algarve, it has been present on billboards, billboards, ATMs, buses or at major events taking place in the region, but the results seem to be falling short.
In statements to the Sul Informação, António Eusébio, chairman of the Board of Directors of Águas do Algarve, said that human consumption in July was «8% higher than last year», but that there are phenomena that «we do not control».
«This year has been drier and the increase in consumption is due to the greater heat», he justified.
António Eusébio also left a guarantee: «we are going to continue and reinforce the campaign, taking into account this concern for saving water».
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