Due to the extreme hydrological drought situation in the Algarve, the Municipality of Albufeira adopted a set of 23 measures that aim to respond to the current crisis situation, promote the reduction of consumption and rationalization in the use of water resources in the region
Despite the rain that occurred during Easter week, the Algarve continues to be in a situation of extreme hydrological drought, with very low levels of groundwater and surface reserves.
Thus, following the resolution of the Council of Ministers, on February 8th, which recognized the alert situation in the region, the various entities with responsibilities in the area, with emphasis on municipalities, implemented a set of measures with a view to providing immediate response to the current crisis situation, which more specifically involves promoting the reduction of consumption and the rationalization of the use of water resources.
In previous years, the Municipality of Albufeira had adopted several measures to preserve water reserves in the municipality, since since May 2022, storage levels in Algarve reservoirs have been below 50%.
“This is the worst drought ever in the region, so in addition to the measures previously adopted, the Municipality of Albufeira was forced to resort to an extraordinary set of measures with a view to reducing urban consumption, in the tourism sector and in agriculture”, explains the president of Albufeira City Council, José Carlos Rolo.
With a view to raising consumer awareness, the municipality will send a communication to all residents explaining the 23 measures adopted, in which the mayor highlights “it is essential that we are all aware of the situation and aware that if there is no effective reduction in consumption , the water supply in the region is seriously compromised”.
In parallel with the previously mentioned statement, which will be distributed together with next month’s water bill, the Municipality is starting a collaboration project with the municipality’s large water consumers, in order to carry out diagnosis and advice regarding grassy areas existing on their respective properties.
To this end, the municipality offers its technical landscape architecture and irrigation management services to support the largest water consumers, namely hotels and other entities with green spaces, in replacing plants that require high water consumption (grass), by autochthonous, Mediterranean plant species resilient to climate change.
The municipality’s technical team begins by carrying out an audit of the site, after which it will suggest planting plans, irrigation equipment and species with low water needs, according to the nature and architecture of the garden areas. The service is free but subject to prior booking via the following email: [email protected].
The President of the City Council states that this is “an initiative that aims to encourage large water consumers, who have green grassy areas and other species with high water needs, to reduce water consumption, raising awareness of the need to replace it with other plants more adapted to the drought scenario experienced in the region. At the same time, the aim is to take advantage of the initiative to provide Albufeira’s gardens and green spaces with greater biodiversity, improving the pollination capacity and the landscape value of the municipality’s green areas”, he highlights.
