José Pimenta Machado gave an update to the Lusa news agency on the region's water reserves and warned that, although the Algarve registered, in November, "the best situation in the last 10 years" in terms of stored surface water, it is necessary to remember that the drought is not over and it is necessary to continue the "exemplary" effort made to improve water efficiency.

When asked how long the Algarve has enough water to guarantee consumption, Pimenta Machado replied that reserves for urban consumption are assured for three to four years, even if the region has "very bad years," but reiterated the need for efficient water management.

“We need to manage water well to prepare for the coming years, which will surely be years of drought and reduced rainfall. […] Some sectors say the drought is over, but nothing is over. It's a temporary situation; we were lucky now, but we have to prepare for the years to come,” he explained.

According to the official, at this moment, the water reserves of the six dams in the Algarve are, on average, at 72% of their capacity, representing 322 cubic hectometres, with particular emphasis on the Odelouca dam, “which is fundamental for the western Algarve region and is at 77%.”

The president of the APA highlighted that the main dam in the eastern Algarve region, Odeleite, is at 76%, a value that means the two largest Algarve dams are “almost at 80%” of their capacity “in the middle of the wet season” and when more rain is expected throughout the winter.

José Pimenta Machado also highlighted the volume of water recorded in the Funcho dam, located in the western Algarve and one of the most affected by the drought, which reached 80% and is already releasing water.

“Storm Cláudia allowed us to recover 5%. On average, we went from 67%, across the six reservoirs, to 72%,” quantified the president of the Portuguese environmental agency.

Best situation in a decade

Pimenta Machado stressed that, with the data recorded in November, the Algarve region is in the “best situation ever in the last 10 years” in terms of water storage in the dams.

“But we must never forget that, in January 2024, we were in the worst situation ever. It wasn't that long ago,” he countered, recalling that the Algarve then had “water for four to five months, no more,” a situation that led the government to implement measures restricting urban consumption, agriculture, and tourism in the region.

The president of the APA (Portuguese Environment Agency), therefore, defended the need to “continue using water consciously” and to continue the work carried out in the Algarve to improve the region's water efficiency.

This work is an “example in the country and even at the European Union level” and must continue, he urged, recalling that the drought left the region in a “very difficult period,” which led to consumption restrictions being applied to key sectors of activity, such as tourism and agriculture.

Despite the region's dams being at 72% capacity, the recovery in groundwater bodies, such as aquifers, “has not been significant,” he said.

More rain

“We need more rain, continuously, so that the groundwater bodies can benefit. They were, in fact, greatly affected during the drought,” he stated.

Pimenta Machado pointed to the Querença-Silves aquifer, the main underground reserve in the Algarve, as an example, warning that it has "very low values" and a level of "less than 20%" of its capacity.