After living in the North West of England for many years, we became accustomed to rain and regular flooding. Now we have swapped that for the very opposite - drought....and it is getting serious. Last week, water-saving measures were announced by the Portuguese government, aimed at addressing the region's imminent and severe drought crisis.
The barragems (reservoirs) are at their lowest levels ever, and the minimal rain we have had this winter is not nearly enough to help. You can see from the photo above where the water used to reach, and it is way below where it should be at this time of year with no meaningful rain in the forecast. The minister for the environment says the capacity of the Algarve's reservoirs is at 25%, compared to 45% this time last year. It is safe to say the Algarve is confronting one of its most significant challenges in recent memory.
We recently met people who are selling their farm because they cannot keep producing the fruit. Their farming neighbours are struggling to keep their cattle as there is not enough food to feed them. Their local major has told them that the Algarve only has enough water to last until the end of 2024 if nothing is done.
The measures announced are for water cuts of 25% for agriculture, and 15% for the urban sector in the Algarve. Leaders in the region endorse the idea of constructing a water highway connecting the north to the south, but decision-makers in Lisbon have not given it serious consideration. Instead, they persist in favoring alternative options such as desalination plants, despite ongoing concerns about their environmental impact and the effectiveness in addressing water loss.
This is a situation not only affecting Portugal but also Spain, and with several years of drought, and more extreme heat each year, river and reservoir levels are not able rise enough. It is a scary situation, and one we hear more about every year. Whether the measures taken by the government are enough, remains to be seen.
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