The amount of water stored in the Barlavento river basin in the Algarve rose to 22.6% in April, up almost three percentage points from March, but it still remains the place with the least amount of water.
According to data from the National Information System for Water Resources (SNIRH), available this Thursday, water reserves increased in eight river basins in April and decreased in four.
At the end of April, the Barlavento basin was still the place with the least amount of water – 22.6% (19.7% at the end of March), while the average is 74.6%.
In February, this pool operated at 12.5% capacity, and in January – at 9.4%.
Stocks by river basin in April 2024 are higher than the average for the same month (reference period 1990/91 to 2022/23), with the exception of Ave (71.4%), Mira (42.2%), Ribeiras do -Algarve. (Barlavento 22.6%) and Arade (44.4%).
On the last day of April, the largest volume of water was in the basins of Oeste (93.2%), Guadiana (93.1%), Tagus (92.3%) and Cavado (91%).
According to SNIRH, of the 60 monitored reservoirs, 36 had water availability exceeding 80% of the total at the end of April, and three had water availability less than 40%.
Each river basin may have more than one reservoir.
The Algarve has been on drought alert since February 5, with the government approving a set of measures to limit consumption, namely a 15% cut in the urban sector, including tourism, and a 25% cut in agriculture.
On Wednesday, Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho acknowledged the easing of Algarve water restrictions in place since January in the urban sector and agriculture, with several scenarios under consideration given some improvement in water availability.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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