Environmental organisations say the Government is hasty in easing restrictions on water consumption in the Algarve, it is a decision that is “not justified” and that raises “concerns” for the coming months.
“It’s not justified. And it is giving a signal contrary to what should be given at the beginning of the season when more intense consumption is recorded”, Afonso do Ó, water specialist at Associação Natureza Portugal (ANP), partner in the country of the international “World Wide Fund for Nature” (WWF).
The measure announced by the Government also raises concerns for the Zero association, with Sara Correia citing the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) to say that the reserves only guarantee water until the end of the year.
On Wednesday the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced in Faro that the Government decided to ease the restrictions imposed on water consumption in agriculture, tourism and the urban sector of the Algarve. These restrictions are in place to reduce the severity of the drought in the region.
"Easing the measures at the beginning of summer, without knowing what the next few months will be like, could put the region in a position similar to other years", said Sara Correia, finding it strange that the Ministry of the Environment supported the decision.
“We are not very surprised that on the part of the Ministry of Agriculture there was this intention for the agricultural sector. But we are worried that the Ministry of the Environment will give the go-ahead, when until recently it said it was concerned about the situation,” she said.
Despite having rained in winter, the Zero manager highlighted that there are no guarantees of water for the coming months, when summer approaches and consumption increases.
Afonso do Ó also pointed out the future uncertainties to consider the Government's decision to be hasty and told Lusa news agency that in the Algarve region there was almost no rain in April and in May, “not a drop”.
The ANP representative also highlighted that restrictions on consumption in agriculture would not result in the death of crops due to lack of water, as long as there was rationalisation.
“From now until October we are in the dry and hot season and the announced decision was “political” and “technically not very justified”, said Afonso do Ó, regretting that every year the country enters the cycle of waiting for the sky to solve the problems of lack of water.
The official also considered that pointing out similar levels of reduction in supply for urban, agricultural and other uses goes against the prioritization of uses enshrined in the Water Law, and that it is “environmentally irresponsible” to consider similar reductions for systems that are at 23% or at double.
For Afonso do Ó, the Government's decision goes against the precautionary principle and “contrary” to the most recent climate change scenarios.
According to official reservoir storage data, referring to May 20th 2024, none of the reservoirs in the Arade, Ribeiras do Barlavento and Ribeiras do Sotavento basins exceeded 50% capacity.
Source Lusa - Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
