Algarve Water Reserves Surge: How Recent Rains Impact Supply for Over a Year

Algarve Water Reservoirs Reach 49% Capacity

Recent rainfall has significantly improved the water levels in the Algarve, with current storage levels rising from 34% to 49%. This increase, as reported by the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA), ensures water supply for over a year.

Nationally, the overall capacity across 80 reservoirs stands at 77%. The APA noted, “The recent rains continue to recover the Algarve reservoirs.”

Water storage in the southern region of Portugal has increased from 135 hectometers cubed (hm³) last year to 218 hm³ this week.

East vs. West: While the sotavento (eastern Algarve) reservoirs have seen significant increases, the barlavento (western Algarve) is struggling due to less rainfall. For instance, the Odeleite reservoir in the east now holds 74% of its capacity (96.20 hm³), while the Beliche is at 66% (31.60 hm³). In contrast, the Odelouca reservoir in the west is only at 37% (58.63 hm³), the Arade at 17% (4.86 hm³), the Bravura at 14% (5.04 hm³), and the Funcho at 45% (21.51 hm³).