Over 30 Entities Unite to Ensure Water Supply from Alqueva to Algarve

A Call for Action: Ensuring Water for the Future

More than 30 entities, including eight municipalities, have signed the manifesto titled “Water for the Future”. This initiative, promoted by the municipalities of Aljezur, Odemira, and Ourique, aims to address water scarcity issues in the Algarve region.

Key Signatories and Supporters

The manifesto has garnered support from municipalities such as Lagos, Lagoa, Monchique, Portimão, Silves, and Vila do Bispo, along with 30 additional entities including the Hospitality and Restaurant Association of Portugal, Portugal Fresh, and Somincor.

Proposals for National Water Plan

The manifesto advocates for the creation of a National Water Plan that focuses on:

• Increasing water availability in drought-affected regions.
• Utilizing Alqueva as a major reservoir for water regulation in the South of Portugal.
• Establishing the Santa Clara Dam as a hub for distributing water to the Southwest Alentejo and Barlavento Algarve.

Infrastructure Improvements Suggested

The signatories propose the interconnection of Alqueva-Mira-Odelouca-Bravura and the rehabilitation of water distribution infrastructure. These measures will be presented to the government as they are believed to ensure the necessary water resources for both current and future consumption in Southwest Alentejo and the Algarve region.

Marcelo Guerreiro, the president of Ourique municipality, emphasized the importance of interconnecting dams from north to south while reinforcing the Alqueva reservoir.