The Minister for the Environment, José Pedro Matos Fernandes, has declared that in spite of the nationwide meteorological drought there is no need for contingency measures to be put in place. Fernandes added that there are no problems with the public water system with regards to “human consumption and other direct uses”.


The Minister appealed for “more efficient use of water” because in spite of there being no complications presently, if the drought continues then problems “will happen next year”. The official sees cutting down on water consumption as the only long-term solution to this problem.
In the Algarve, a campaign to promote saving water has begun across the region.


Águas do Algarve has launched the campaign to focus on the “intelligent use of water” focusing on the “need to ensure that there is no waste” according to the chairman of Àguas fo Algarve, Joaquim Peres.


While he stressed that there will be “no problems this year” in regards to water shortages, he added that by taking action now it will help to “ensure in the future that there will not be any problems”.


Àguas do Algarve aims to carry out actions to focus on water distribution centres and to avoid leaks and waste in the system.
In order to reach as many people as possible, the company is working with regional partners including the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), the Regional Health Administration (ARS), the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), the Regional Directorate for Agriculture (DRAP) and the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ), the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA) and the University of Algarve (UAlg).


“These entities will hold seminars to explain campaign objectives and through them we will be able to reach more people who live in the Algarve and visit us,” he said.


The collaboration with the ARS will see “films being screened in waiting rooms, with subtitles and sign language, to raise awareness regarding the intelligent use of water,” the IPDJ will help with the placement of stickers with “messages not to waste more water than the necessary “in 800 sports centres, a procedure that will also be followed at the university, along with the organisation of seminars, said Peres.


“The RTA will also collaborate in the campaign launch event, which will be held in the replica of the Boa Esperança caravel, in the port of Lagos, on 26 July, with some television personalities,” he added.


The Climate Bulletin produced by the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has highlighted that the meteorological drought has slightly worsened in the south of Portugal. According to the document, 33.9 percent of continental Portugal was in extreme or severe drought, 22.7 percent in moderate drought and 40.9 percent in weak drought.

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Originally from the UK, Daisy has been living and working in Portugal for more than 20 years. She has worked in PR, marketing and journalism, and has been the editor of The Portugal News since 2019. Jornalista 7920

Daisy Sampson