The amount of water stored in reservoirs in various river basins has fallen across almost the entire country, particularly in the south of the country, according to data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH).
At the end of August, and compared to the last day of the previous month, there was an increase in the volume stored in one of the river basins (Lima) and a decrease in 11.
At a national level, the most serious situation is, as is usual, that of the Barlavento Algarvio river basin, which only includes the Bravura dam.
The amount of water retained fell from 19% in July to 16,7% in August.
According to SNIRH data, the Arade basin follows, which was, at the end of the month, at 34,8% (37,7% in July).
This basin includes three dams: Arade, which accumulated 21,4% of water (25,9% in July), Funcho (35,9% compared to 37%) and Odelouca, the largest reservoir in the Algarve, which went from 40,1% in July to 36,8% at the end of August.
The remaining two dams in the Algarve – Beliche and Odeleite – are part of the Guadiana river basin.
Beliche went from 31,6% in July to 27% in August, while Odeleite reduced its water volume from 38,4% to 34,1%.
Another important reservoir for the Algarve is Santa Clara (in the Mira basin), whose waters irrigate agricultural land in the municipality of Aljezur. Santa Clara suffered a slight drop from 39,3% in July to 38,2% at the end of last month.
Finally, the largest national dam, Alqueva, which stored 85,8% of its volume in July, ended August with 82,1%.
SNIRH data also indicate that, on the last day of August, the Guadiana (79,5%), Oeste (76,9%), Cávado (75,7%), Mondego (73,6%) and Douro (68,1%) basins had the highest volume of water.
Storages for August 2024 by river basin were higher than the storage averages for this month (1990/91 to 2022/23), except in the Lima, Tejo, Mira, Ribeiras do Algarve and Arade basins.
Of the 58 monitored reservoirs, 10 had water availability greater than 80% of the total volume and another 15 less than 40%.
Each hydrographic basin can correspond to more than one reservoir.
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