Algarve: An 'exemplary' reduction in water consumption in agriculture and golf
The vice-president of the Portuguese Environment Agency has praised the agricultural and golf sectors in the Algarve for using around three times less water than required by the Government, this February compared to last February.
Comparing February 2023 to February 2024, 90,000 cubic metres less water was used by the agricultural and golf sectors in the Algarve.
“It is a 69% reduction, very significant for water reserves and a sign that everyone is making an effort to face the worst drought ever in the region”, said José Pimenta Machado.
The urban sector also reduced water consumption by 0.5% in February, still below the 15% contained in the contingency measures proposed by the Drought Commission and approved by the Government.
For agricultural irrigation, the commission defined a 25% reduction in consumption and 18% for the irrigation of golf courses.
For the head of APA, the reduction in consumption in these sectors demonstrates that “the measures are working, in an effort that is being made by all” sectors together.
“It is true that in January and February there is no watering, but even so, a great effort is made, with a very encouraging and very important percentage”, he highlighted.
For Pimenta Machado, consumption in February in all sectors – urban, tourism and agricultural – reflects “the great cooperation, teamwork and commitment to face this great challenge”, he added.
“It is true that some measures are in the implementation phase, but it is necessary to reorganize, plan, because there are others that have some technical complexity and that require a greater effort to be implemented”, he pointed out.
To take stock of the measures currently in force and define others to be applied, a general coordination meeting between the APA , the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) and the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) is scheduled for mid-March.
The meeting also aims to define the governance model of the five specialized technical working groups (GT): GT1 - agriculture and golf; GT2-tourism; GT3-low water management; GT4-awareness campaigns and GT5-inspection.
In view of the extreme drought situation that the Algarve is facing and to raise awareness among the population of the importance of saving water, the Portuguese Environment Agency will soon launch the drought portal, an IT application.
“It is an application that aims to inform all citizens about water reserves in reservoirs and consumption in different sectors and alert more sustainable behaviours”, he said.
Through the application, citizens can monitor and follow the current evolution of consumption in the various municipalities, as well as reservoir and groundwater reserves.
“Basically, it helps us monitor consumption and understand whether or not we are achieving the objective of reducing water consumption”, he concluded.
The Algarve has been on alert due to drought since February 5th, and the Government has approved a set of measures to restrict consumption, namely a 15% reduction in the urban sector, including tourism, and a 25% reduction in agriculture.
In addition to these measures, there are others such as combating losses in supply networks, the use of treated water to irrigate green spaces, streets and golf courses or the suspension of the granting of titles for the use of water resources.
The Government has already admitted there will be an increase the level of restrictions, declaring a state of environmental emergency or calamity, if the measures now implemented are insufficient to address water scarcity in the region.
The weather worsens with rain, strong wind and sea disturbances
According to the IPMA, all but 3 districts In Portugal are under yellow warning due to precipitation from Wednesday night until Sunday morning.
The forecast from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warns that, from the end of Wednesday, the rain arrived “initially weak” to the west coast of the continent to “gradually extend to the remaining territory and becoming moderate, sometimes strong, with hail and accompanied by thunderstorms”, between Thursday and Sunday.
The wind will also blow strong at times, more so on Friday, and with gusts that can reach 80 km/h on the coast and 100 km/h on higher land.
Sea disturbance will be strong, especially on the western coast, with waves generally 5 to 6 metres high, which on Saturday could exceed 7 metres north of Cabo Raso.
“Significant snowfall in the northern and central highlands” is also expected until Sunday, starting on Thursday on the highest points of the Serra da Estrela.
The Navy and the National Maritime Authority (AMN) recommend that the maritime community and the population in general to be very careful at sea and in coastal areas, reinforcing moorings and anchored vessels and keeping a close watch when walking beside the sea and on jetties, cliffs and beaches. Recreational activities in the most exposed areas should be avoided.
Man arrested after extorting €1000 for a residence permit
The PSP have arrested a 39 year old man in Portimão, after receiving information that a citizen was being forced to hand over 1000 euros for his residence permit, which had been sent to the wrong address by mistake.
Given the seriousness of the facts, the security force began an investigation and found that, "the suspect, after having unduly received the victim's residence permit, sought to obtain illegitimate enrichment, threatening his physical integrity if his intentions were not satisfied”.
It was possible to arrest the suspect because "the victim, in desperation, made the payment that had been demanded of him, in order to have his documentation returned".
Loulé: 17 year old footballer charged with attacking referee
A GNR source has confirmed that a 17 year old footballer who attacked a referee in a second-tier under-17 district game, in Loulé on Sunday, has been identified and charged.
The attack on referee Pedro Paulo, during the Campinense-Olhanense game, was denounced by the União de Núcleos do Algarve, which brings together three groups of referees federated in the Algarve Football Association (AFA).
After receiving an expulsion order, a Campinense footballer “acted in a cowardly manner against the referee, punching him twice in the abdominal area”, accused the union of groups in a statement.
After the “violent action”, the game was immediately interrupted and, the same note reads, “procedures were initiated to file a criminal complaint against the aggressor”.
A GNR source confirmed that, in the 55th minute of the game played on municipal field number 2 in Loulé, the match referee was attacked by a player. The 17 year old athlete was identified and accused, with the GNR preparing a report and informing the court.
The match was immediately interrupted and the referee, who did not require medical assistance, had his safety guaranteed by the GNR soldiers present at the scene and expressed the desire to go ahead with criminal proceedings.
The groups of football referees in the Algarve emphasize that this was “the third time in the 2023/24 season that referees have been attacked while carrying out their duties”, urging the competent authorities “to take firm and rapid measures to punish the aggressor in an exemplary manner”.
“It is essential that justice is done so that sport can be practiced and enjoyed in a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. We believe that a quick and energetic response will send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated”, said the union of groups.
Portugal launches nanosatellite from SpaceX's space base
The Portuguese nanosatellite will travel aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which will take off from the SpaceX base, a company owned by billionaire, Elon Musk.
Its Portugal's second satellite into space, “Aeros”, a 4.5 kilo nanosatellite, which will observe the oceans from the International Space Station, a mission that has scientific support from the University of Algarve, among others.
The “Aeros” will be on board a Falcon 9 rocket, which will take off from the base of billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company, in Vandenberg, in the United States, at 9:18 pm (Lisbon time) today.
The device, designed and operated by a national consortium of several companies and academic institutions, was launched 30 years after “PoSat-1”, the first Portuguese satellite, a 50 kilo microsatellite that entered Earth orbit in September 1993, but deactivated after a decade.
“Aeros” will be in Earth’s orbit at an altitude of 510 kilometres, slightly above the International Space Station.
Communications and collection of data and images will be carried out from the Santa Maria teleport, in the Azores, maintained by Thales Edisoft Portugal, the company that leads the national consortium.
The CEiiA engineering center, in Matosinhos, one of the partners and which built the nanosatellite, will process the data and images for the purposes of scientific studies.
The universities of Algarve, Porto and Minho, plus the Instituto Superior Técnico and Imar – Instituto do Mar, among others, provide scientific support for the mission, which is also joined by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the United States, through the MIT-Portugal cooperation program.
“Aeros”, which began work in 2020, represents an investment of 2.78 million euros, co-financed with 1.88 million euros by Feder – European Regional Development Fund.
Tourists will arrive in their droves at Easter
Tourism officials say the prospects for tourist occupancy for Easter in the Algarve are “very good”, with a higher rate of bookings than at the same time last year.
“According to feedback from professionals in the sector, we have a very good rate of bookings, higher than that seen at the same time last year”, the president of the Algarve Tourism Region told the Lusa news agency.
André Gomes insisted that there are “very positive prospects” for both national and foreign tourists visiting the Algarve this Easter.
An identical analysis was carried out by the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve ( AHETA ), who stated that the majority of its members have reservations “equal or higher” than this period last year.
“The prospects are very good, there is still availability, but we are, as a general rule, above last year”, said Hélder Martins.
The tourist profile at this time of year is, as usual, mainly made up of families. However, the fact that Easter is earlier than usual – Easter Sunday is March 31st – means that there is a more pronounced overlap with the travel of groups of foreigners who come to play golf, said Snr Martins.
The Portuguese will more than likely top the list of nationalities that visit the Algarve the most, followed by the British, French, Irish and Spanish, to name just the top few. The president of Algarve Tourism highlighted that the number of tourists from the United States of America continues to be “fast growing” too.
