the state of Portuguese dams in March 2024

At the end of March, there is a moment of some relief in the national territory, due to the water abundance in most hydrographic regions. Recently, the country was affected by storms Monica It is Nelsonresulting in a significant increase in water availability.

Recent statistics reveal a generally positive picture. Now let’s see: of the 81 dams monitored in the national territory68% have water availability greater than 80% of the total volume. This significant increase in water storage is a reason for some reassurance for Portuguese politicians and citizens.

How was the behavior of Portuguese reservoirs during the month of March?

Analysis by river basin also confirms this positive trend. Compared to storage averages over the last twenty years, the dams displaylast week, according to the Albufeiras Weekly Bulletin, from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)/ SNIRH (National Water Resources Information System), higher rates in several regions of the country, highlightingthen, the Tagus (93.1%), Douro (92.6%), Alentejo (92.0%), Vouga (90.9%) and Cávado (90.8%) basins with a total stored volume greater than 90%.

However, some points deserve special attention, such as basins of Mira (36.6%), Arade (34.6%), Ribeiras do Barlavento (16.2%) and Ribeiras do Sotavento (40.8%)which register volumes slightly lower than historical averages.

A special highlight is reserved for the Alqueva Dam, which is approaching its total storage. Thanks to a period of intense rainfall, the largest Portuguese reservoir is just 1.5 meters away from reaching its maximum level. With capacity filled at 91%, Alqueva can present good levels for human supply, but also for agricultural and energy production.

Management and planning is fundamental to solving the problem in the south of the country

However, it’s not all good news. Some regions in the south of the country still face challenges, with residual rainfall levels. Concerns persist mainly on the Alentejo coast, Barlavento and Sotavento Algarvio, where water continues to be a resource in short supply.

To deal with these regional disparities and guarantee water security in the long term, some ideas have been emerging, which we have already reported on here on our portal. Between them, the idea of ​​a “water highway” stands out, defended by experts such as Jorge Avelar Froes, Manuel Holstein Campilho and Miguel Holstein Campilho. This ambitious project aims to transfer water from the North to the South of the countrytaking advantage of the water abundance in some regions to meet the needs of areas with lower availability.

Weather in Portugal in April: will it be “a thousand waters”? Will it be cold or hot? Here’s Meteored’s latest forecast

Furthermore, there are some calls for investments in infrastructure, such as the construction of new dams, which increase the available storage capacity. After all, Portugal’s problem is not just water scarcity, but inherent to the management challenges and unequal distribution of resources.

In this period of greeting spring, it is important to note that the abundance of water and precipitation that has been falling in recent days in the national territory is more than a seasonal grace for Portuguese reservoirs. In fact, it clearly demonstrates the importance of water as a vital resource and the need for sustainable management to ensure long-term availability.