The volume of the Algarve's dams did not undergo significant changes throughout the month of November, which means that the Algarve's reservoirs continue to have very low levels for this time of year and are a cause for concern, according to the most recent Storage Bulletin, from the National Water Resources Information System (SINRH).
The most critical situation continues to be that of the Bravura Dam, the only reservoir in the Ribeiras do Algarve Hydrographic Basin, which is at 7,6% of its total capacity. In this case, the difference to the average volume at the end of November, which is 53,4%, is very pronounced.
In the neighboring Arade Hydrographic Basin, the volume, which stands at 25,5%, is also below the average, which is 37,8%.
In this river basin, there are two reservoirs whose main use is irrigation, Arade and Funcho, which are currently 15% and 33%, respectively.
As for the Odelouca Dam, intended for human supply and which has the highest capacity in the Algarve, it is currently at 24% of its total capacity, according to the SNIHR.
However, if we look at the water availability data from Águas do Algarve, which manages the dams to supply the region, the useful volume of this reservoir was only 6,9%, in mid-November.
The Odeleite and Beliche dams, in the Ribeiras do Sotavento sub-basin, are the least critical – but still cause concern.
The Odeleite dam, the second largest in the Algarve, is at 32% of its total capacity. The useful volume stored in this reservoir was 18,93%, on November 17th.
On the same date, the Beliche reservoir had a useful volume of 16,36%. The total volume stored was 25%, the same as at the end of the previous month.
At national level, compared to the last day of October, there was an increase in the volume stored in five river basins and a decrease in six.
«Of the 60 monitored reservoirs, 15 have water availability greater than 80% of the total volume and 17 have water availability lower than 40% of the total volume», according to the SNIRH.
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