The April rain did not fill the Algarve dams. In the six reservoirs, storage capacity is 44%, while the national average is 88%. The Barlavento do Algarve river basin (Bravura Dam) has the least amount of water reserves in the entire country. The amount of water increased by only 3% compared to March, while the volume of water in the basin was 22.6%. The Arade basin (Arade, Odeluka and Funcho dams) has a volume of 44.4%. In Sotavento, Odeleite and Beliche have a volume of 48%.
According to data published this week by the National Water Information System, which monitors 60 reservoirs, also in Baixo Alentejo, the volume of the Mira River basin (Santa Clara and Corte Brique) is less than half, that is, 44%. Despite a 3% increase in water reserves in reservoirs, the Algarve remains on alert due to drought, which has led to water cuts in several sectors. Next week the measures will be reviewed, and a “softening of cuts” is already expected.