Speaking to Lusa news agency, the company's spokesperson, Teresa Fernandes, stated that the “very significant” winter rainfall allowed water to be stored in the three reservoirs that serve the public supply, which is enough for three years.

“For human consumption, and even if it doesn’t rain, our estimates are that current reserves can guarantee supply in quality and safety,” said the person in charge.

According to the spokesperson for the company that manages the multi-municipal water supply system in the Algarve, the estimate “is made based on the average annual consumption in recent years, which is around 72 million cubic meters”.

Teresa Fernandes indicated that the Odelouca reservoir, the largest in the Algarve, located in the western part of the country, recorded a useful volume of 90% last Friday, that is, 114.94 cubic hectometres (hm3).

In the eastern part of the Algarve, in the east, the Odeleite reservoir has a useful volume of 105.12 hm3 (97%) and the Beliche reservoir 39.35 hm3 (92%).

However, despite the positive water intake due to last winter's rainfall, the person in charge called for water conservation, as in the coming winters, there may be little rain in the region again, as happened in previous years.

“Although we have more water stored in reservoirs, it is important that this water resource is consumed efficiently and responsibly”.

According to data from the State Environmental Agency (APA), the total volume stored in the region's six main reservoirs reached 395 cubic hectometres (hm3) in April, corresponding to 90% of total capacity.

In the western Algarve, reservoirs that supply agriculture and golf, the Arade dam has 72% (20.32 hm3) of its useful capacity, the Bravura dam 60% (20.90 hm3) and the Funcho dam 84% (39.88 hm3).

According to the APA, compared to the same period in 2024, there was an increase of around 199 hm3 of stored water: 84 hm3 in Sotavento (corresponding to 43%) and 112 hm3 in Barlavento (corresponding to 57%).