Water Conservation in the Algarve

Managing a precious resource in a semi-arid climate

Water is one of the most pressing issues facing the Algarve. The region has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and rainfall concentrated in the winter months between October and March. Annual rainfall averages around 500 millimetres, roughly half the UK average, and climate change projections indicate that southern Portugal will become hotter and drier in the coming decades.

The Algarve's water supply relies primarily on surface reservoirs. The Odelouca dam, completed in 2012, is the largest, supplemented by the older Bravura dam near Lagos and several smaller reservoirs. These dams store winter rainfall for year-round distribution. In years of below-average rainfall, reservoir levels drop alarmingly. The drought conditions of 2023 and 2024 saw the Odelouca reservoir fall below 30 per cent capacity, triggering restrictions on agricultural irrigation, garden watering, and swimming pool filling.

The tension between water supply and demand is driven by several factors. The resident population has grown steadily, and the summer tourist population more than doubles demand. Agriculture, particularly citrus orchards and market gardening, requires irrigation. Golf courses, of which there are over 30 in the Algarve, are significant water consumers, though many have invested in irrigation efficiency and some use treated wastewater. Swimming pools, both private and in hotels and resorts, add to the demand.

Water distribution is managed by Aguas do Algarve (bulk supply) and municipal companies including FAGAR (Faro) and others. Water quality is good and meets EU standards. Prices are metered and tiered, with higher per-unit charges for higher consumption, designed to incentivise conservation. A typical household water bill for moderate use is 30 to 60 euros per month, though this increases significantly if a garden or pool is maintained.

Conservation measures available to residents include installing low-flow showerheads and taps, using drought-resistant planting in gardens, collecting rainwater for garden use, covering swimming pools to reduce evaporation, and running dishwashers and washing machines only when full. Watering gardens during the heat of the day is wasteful; early morning or late evening is recommended.

The Portuguese government has invested in a desalination plant near Albufeira, expected to be operational in the mid-2020s, which will provide a climate-independent water source for the central Algarve. Plans for water transfer from the Guadiana river system and further investment in wastewater recycling for irrigation are also under discussion.

For residents, water conservation is not merely an environmental aspiration but a practical necessity. Restrictions during drought periods are enforced, and the long-term trajectory points towards tighter management of a resource that cannot be taken for granted in this part of Europe.

The long-term outlook for water supply in the Algarve is a matter of serious concern among hydrologists, environmental scientists, and regional planners. Climate projections suggest that southern Portugal will experience a 20 to 40 per cent reduction in average rainfall by the end of the century, coupled with higher temperatures that increase evaporation from reservoirs and agricultural water demand. The implications for the Algarve's water balance are stark, and adaptation will require sustained investment, behavioural change, and potentially difficult decisions about land use and development.

For individual residents, water conservation at the household level contributes to the broader effort. Installing cisterns or tanks to collect rainwater from roofs provides a free water source for garden irrigation. Choosing native and drought-adapted plants for gardens, such as lavender, rosemary, bougainvillea, and olive trees, reduces water demand compared to lawns and tropical planting. Running full loads in washing machines and dishwashers, fixing leaking taps promptly, and taking shorter showers are everyday habits that collectively make a significant difference in a region where every litre counts.