The Ministry of Environment and Energy has given the green light to the intervention to use the 'dead volume' to increase the capacity of the Odelouca Dam. This is an investment worth 4.9 million euros, financed by the Environmental Fund and to be carried out by Águas do Algarve.
For the ministry, this is a "crucial investment to guarantee water security in the southern region of the country, particularly during periods of drought", according to their statement.
The project is aligned with the Algarve Water Efficiency Plan and the measures to combat drought approved by the Government, and is expected to be completed at the end of the year, allowing a collection volume of 15 cubic hectometres, when urban water consumption in the region is around 75 cubic hectometres per year.
“Drought is an increasingly common occurrence in the Algarve and this project represents an important step towards supplementing the water supply to the population and economic activities in the region in emergency situations. With this intervention, we are increasing water resilience and contributing to environmental sustainability”, says Maria da Graça Carvalho.
The intervention consists of lowering the minimum operating level of the Odelouca Dam, whose dead volume was oversized. Águas do Algarve considered that this level could be lowered, allowing a higher volume of capture, without compromising water quality.
“This investment is a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring water security in the Algarve. By capturing the dead water from the Odelouca Dam, we are creating a resilient response to the challenges of drought by managing water in a sustainable way. This project is an example of how we can reconcile economic development with environmental protection,” stressed the Minister of Environment and Energy.
