Faro, Portugal. July 4, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's government partially lifted restrictions on groundwater abstraction for agricultural use in the Algarve on Friday, following the recovery seen after the impact of winter rains, the Minister for the Environment and Energy announced.
According to Maria da Graça Carvalho, the decision follows the “significant recovery” of seven groundwater bodies in the western and eastern Algarve river basins, the Arade basin, Luz de Tavira, São Brás de Alportel, Peral, Moncarapacho and São Bartolomeu.
According to the minister, the lifting of restrictions will cover an agricultural area of around 60,000 hectares, and the Querença/Silves aquifer will remain subject to restrictions on abstraction because its recovery has not yet matched that of the surrounding area.
Maria da Graça Carvalho made the announcement at a press conference in Faro, after the signing of the protocol “Water that Unites - Studies for the assessment of water potential in the Algarve’s river basins”, between the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Association of Beneficiaries of the Sotavento Irrigation Plan.
“I agreed with the decision made here after the mapping carried out by the APA, and it will take effect from today, after the meeting of the Drought Commission on water management in the Algarve,” she stressed.
Maria da Graça Carvalho also said that the APA will “review all groundwater abstraction permits in the Algarve in line with new plantations and also update the areas, a task the authority last completed some time ago”.
However, she warned that the commission will review the drought situation in the Algarve at its next meeting, taking into account the forecasts for a very hot summer.
“We review this situation every two months, monitor it closely, and will proceed with careful planning,” she said.
The minister pointed out that water retention in dams “is only very useful if it rains, because if there are many years without rain, we must take extra care”.
However, she said, we must continue to combat waste and save water, maintaining the 5% restriction on water consumption for all sectors: urban, tourism, agriculture and golf.
According to Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Algarve’s reservoirs currently hold 372 cubic hectometres of stored water, which represents 83% of their capacity, an increase of 196 cubic hectometres compared to the same month in 2024.
The minister presided today in Faro over the signing of the protocol “Water that Unites - Studies for the assessment of water potential in the Algarve’s river basins, namely in the Alportel river basin”, between APA and the Association of Beneficiaries of the Sotavento Irrigation Plan. presi According to the APA, the studies are part of the Algarve Regional Water Efficiency Plan and aim to strengthen water supply security. Experts also view them as a significant contribution to reducing the risk of flooding in Tavira, as part of the RH8 - Ribeiras do Algarve Flood Risk Management Plan.
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