Albufeira City Council technical services support private individuals in reducing water consumption

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 a released note, the Albufeira Chamber explains that in previous years, it adopted several measures with a view to preserving 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”.

A collaboration project will be initiated with the municipality’s large water consumers, in order to carry out diagnosis and advice regarding the existing grassy areas on their respective properties. To this end, the Chamber 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, and then suggests 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].