The public tender for the preparation of the Alportel Dam project was published on Friday. The projects aim is to guarantee flood protection for the city of Tavira, as well as provide irrigation and public water supply.
The project will involve an investment of around €350,000, and is expected to be completed within 9 months.
The project comes as a result of a protocol signed between the Portuguese Environment Agency and the Sotavento Irrigation Association, with the support of the Environmental Fund.
“A storage of around 10hm3 is expected, in an average year, in a scenario of reduced precipitation and this close to the Tavira WTP, which supplies treated water to the entire Sotavento region of the Algarve” and “4.5 kilometres from the central reservoir of Santo Estêvão, which also supplies agriculture”, said the Sotavento Irrigation Association.
Macário Correia, chairman of the Sotavento Irrigation Association said he expects to “have an updated project and environmental impact study during the second half of 2025”, after which “the execution project” will be carried out.
Tavira City Council has already expressed “great satisfaction” and has made itself available to “support, whenever necessary, the project and future construction” of the dam.
