Tourist enterprises in the Algarve region that adhere to the water efficiency seal Save Water reduced water consumption by 12% in the first months of the year, indicates the first monitoring report of the Commitment to Water Efficiency, for the tourism sector, prepared by ADENE.
Between March 18th and May 31st, ADENE's Commitment to Water Efficiency platform joined the platform. Of the approximately 650 tourist establishments registered in the Algarve region, only 85 joined the platform, around 13% of the total, which will represent, according to with data from the RTA, more than 20% of the total beds available in the region.
More than two thousand measures are being implemented, half of which are structuring.
These results are contained in the first monitoring report issued by ADENE, within the scope of the Commitment to Water Efficiency, which includes the “Save Water” water efficiency seal.
According to the ADENE report, «the water savings achieved contribute to mitigating the problem of water scarcity in the Algarve», considering «the improvement of information on consumption in the Algarve Tourism sector to be positive, enabling the formulation of policies more adjusted and targeted to different sectors». It is also recommended to “intensify the dissemination effort with a view to increasing adherence to the initiative”.
The water efficiency seal applicable to hotels and other tourist developments is a measure coordinated by the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), in conjunction with Turismo de Portugal, with ADENE having the responsibility for ensuring the monitoring of consumption reported by members in the Platform Commitment to Water Efficiency, as well as achieved in the application of the measures.
The initiative results from Resolution of the Council of Ministers (RCM) no. 26-A/2024, of February 20, which recognized the alert situation in the Algarve region due to drought and approved a response framework covering supply public, tourism and agriculture.
Recently, RCM No. 80/2024, of June 21, revoked RCM No. 26-A/2024, maintaining the alert situation, expanding the scope of application of the water efficiency seal to other activities (local accommodation, catering , tourist entertainment and rent-a-car companies), revising downwards (from 15% to 13%) the objective of reducing the volume of water consumed by the urban sector, which includes the tourist sector.
ADENE, the agency responsible for several initiatives in the field of water efficiency, including the ec assessment systemAQUA+ lassification, highlights the need to continue investing in water efficiency measures and to ensure the full implementation of the Action Plans identified.
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