Water consumption in the last decade in the Algarve has nearly doubled, but usage seems to have peaked and is now falling.
Increased environmental awareness and the need to save money have led people in Portugal to cut back on their water consumption (see the Algarve Resident September 9 edition).
According to data provided by the regional water board Águas do Algarve, water consumption in the region has been reducing every year since 2008.
In 2008, from January to August, consumption was 48,078,970 cubic metres and in the same period in 2011 it fell to 45,716,503 cubic metres, representing a 4.91% drop.
“One of the reasons for the decrease in the consumption of water in the region has to do with the fact that we are going through a very wet climate cycle. We’ve had a fair bit of rain, meaning that there’s been less need for watering,” said Teresa Fernandes of Águas do Algarve.
“Another reason may be related to the economic crisis in the country, which has led to an increase in water costs and people cutting back on consumption to save money on their water bills.
“Also, since the 2005 drought, we have carried out several environmental campaigns to make people aware of the importance of saving water.”
