Despite the break in the rain for a few days at the end of March, the Algarve's ravines and streams continued to transport water from the mountains to the dams, meaning that four of the region's six reservoirs are now almost full.
The Sotavento dams (easterly algarve) have already opened their floodgates, as they are reaching their maximum storage limit, while the Funcho dam in the westerly algarve has discharged water into the Arade dam.
According to the latest weekly reservoir bulletin from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), between 24th and 31st March, the volume of water storage increased by 3% in Funcho and Odelouca and 2% in Bravura and Beliche. The other two dams in the region recorded practically no fluctuations.
As of March 31st, the Odeleite dam in the Algarve was practically at its maximum level, reaching 98% of its total capacity. The neighbouring Beliche reservoir is also almost full, at 94% of its capacity.
The highlight is the Odelouca dam, the largest in the Algarve, whose water volume has continued to increase and on March 31st, it was at 86% of its total storage volume. The Funcho reservoir has also seen a notable increase in water levels, reaching 85% of its capacity.
However, the Arade and Bravura dams are still far from their maximum level, on March 31st the Arade dam was at 59% and Bravura dam at 57%.
The forecast points to rain in the first days of April, so it is expected that the storage levels of the Algarve dams will continue to increase, banishing the fear of drought for now.
