The amount of water stored in the Barlavento river basin, in the Algarve, increased to 22.6% in April, an increase of almost three percentage points compared to the month of March, but it continued to be the one with the least water.
According to data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH) available this Thursday, In April there was an increase in the volume stored in eight basins and a decrease in four.
At the end of April, the Barlavento basin continued to be the one that contained the least water, with 22.6% (19.7% at the end of March), when the average is 74.6%.
In February this basin was at 12.5% of its capacity and in January at 9.4%.
April 2024 storages by hydrographic basin are higher than the storage averages 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 West (93.2%), Guadiana (93.1%), Tajo (92.3%) and Cávado (91%) basins were the ones that accumulated the greatest volume of water.
According to the SNIRH, of the 60 reservoirs monitored, 36 had water availability greater than 80% of the total volume at the end of April and three with availability less than 40%.
Each hydrographic basin can correspond to more than one reservoir.
The Algarve has been on alert due to drought since February 5, and the Government approved a set of measures to restrict consumption, in particular a 15% reduction in the urban sector, including tourism, and a 25% reduction in the agriculture.
On the fourth fair, the Minister of the Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, admitted to alleviating the cuts in water consumption in the Algarve in force since January in the urban sector in agriculture, with several dinners on top of the table, face some better time in availability of water.
Source: Observadora
