en 
According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, possible additional measures, which provide for a “higher degree of contingency” can be implemented after the reassessment of the drought situation in the region, which will be carried out in June.
“[...] The Government reserves the right, if the measures now adopted prove to be insufficient, to, under the Basic Law on Civil Protection, […] declare a calamity situation”, reads the document.
The Algarve is currently on alert due to drought and, if there is a declaration of calamity, it will be possible to establish limits and restrictions on the use of water in non-essential uses, as well as rationalisation measures in public water supply services.
In the same sense, the Government may also determine the use of surface or underground water abstractions, belonging to public or private entities, by the concessionaire of the Algarve's multi-municipal water supply and sanitation system, when necessary, in accordance with the Basic Law of Civil Protection in force.
Alternatively, the declaration of a state of environmental emergency as provided for in the Water Law may be considered.
The measures planned by the Government to preserve water reserves in the region include the suspension of the public water supply for irrigation of golf courses.
On the other hand, between June 1st and September 30th, the use of public water for washing vehicles is suspended, except in establishments licensed for commercial activity with water recirculation systems.
Potential cuts
According to the Government, the current situation in the Algarve “appears particularly critical”, and there could be an eventual “effective disruption in public supply systems” for human consumption if water use continues at current levels.
“[…] In a scenario in which measures are not adopted and implemented to guarantee the preservation of water reserves and in the absence of precipitation well above the maximum values that occurred in the last six years, the supply of water for human consumption in the Algarve region will be severely compromised”, states the resolution.
The alert situation due to drought in the Algarve was declared by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) in December 2023 and reaffirmed on January 25th.
According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, since May 2022, water storage levels in reservoirs in the Algarve region have been below 50%.
Currently, groundwater storage levels “are extremely low, with approximately 84% of groundwater bodies having a stored volume below the 20th percentile, “and, of these, around 48% are in a very critical state”.
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Here we go again, the same guys who have sat on their hands doing nothing for years are now preparing to throw around their position of POWER.
Get on and implement a plan that makes use of the water that surrounds the coastal area of Portugal .
If you cannot do that get out of the ways for those with the skills to deliver.
Portugal needs people that have a positive mindset otherwise you will destroy this wonderful country.
By Cyril Griffith from Algarve on 21 Feb 2024, 11:42
The Algarve needs to determine if tourism and the income derived from its continual development Is more important than farming and the use of water to maintain food supplies and essential water for the nation.
By Christine Shepherd from UK on 21 Feb 2024, 15:22
Maybe someone should look at the practices of the new supposed mid level reservoir in Soalheira Loulé.
They have been hooked up to the fire hydrant and even filled the reservoir with the water from the hydrant. Public water supply.
This has been going on since june 2022.
There meter shows the thousands of cubic metres of water used.
No one seems to be aware of this enormous project. This has driven us out of our home. Maybe someone should write about that.
By Dianne Watson from Algarve on 21 Feb 2024, 18:41
The lack of any central Govt policy to create long term water sustainability for the Algarve whilst encouraging tourism and development is nothing short of scandalous. In fact its is ‘ third world’ Govt.
By Jeremy Rumble from Algarve on 22 Feb 2024, 10:47
According to reports there are 25,000 in Lagoa the council who use the most water, there are also five nearby golf courses. A simple research will show that the those five golf courses use about the same amount of water as 35,000 people. The Portuguese residents are not the problem golf is. Let's have some clarity publish the facts on consumption and how much golf courses / Pestana are charged for water and why green golf courses are more important than local taxpayers
By Chris from Algarve on 22 Feb 2024, 16:04
instead of preparing for the doomsday scenario, why not work on long term solutions. if the UAE can secure the water resources for development, anybody can. we can seriously look at north / south water sharing. a pipeline is not a moonshot. we can look at desalination. and for starters, do we have a maintenance program in place to repair all the leaking distribution infrastructure? God knows how many thousands of liters an hour leak into nowhere. we also need to look at sustainable tourist development. more and more tourists every year is not sustainable. we need to get going
By Peter Eberle from Algarve on 23 Feb 2024, 08:30
Incapacity to look more than standard 4 years election period is what bring the democracy as a short term view system where nobody wants to know what will happen 20 years from now and that is clearly visible with the Lisbon Airport or water in Algarve. We are reinventing the wheel again here instead of looking on other countries solutions like UAE, Israel etc. Some of the examples of lose of the water is the pipe damaged inside of Condominium over the weekend that nobody is in charge for, as there is nobody that wants to repair it as it is a weekend and CMA is not responsible as it is in Condominium but the water loss is a actualy belonging to no one as it is before the Condominium counters.... And for two days and nights no repairs as local companies are busy it do not work on repairs over weekends.
By Ned from Algarve on 24 Feb 2024, 09:45
Why not try this........ Water scarcity: Bengaluru water board mandates installation of aerators in taps
By David Nichols from Algarve on 19 Mar 2024, 19:32
Look at the road infrastructure , none of the roads harvest the rain , most of it is lost.
By John croke from UK on 18 Apr 2024, 18:53