Almada water reserves reach 40%

Almada water reserves reach 40%

Average water reserves in the municipality of Almada stood at 40% on Saturday, a level that allows the situation to be reviewed and the number of supply-cut hours to potentially be reduced, according to the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS).

In a notice published on its website, SMAS Almada said the average reserve figure is based on storage levels at the Alto do Índio, Sobreda, Raposo, Lazarim, Trafaria, Vale Cavala and Pragal reservoirs. The monitoring scale used by SMAS Almada has five levels: level 1 (red) applies when reserves are below 20%; level 2 (orange) covers figures between 20% and 30%; level 3 (yellow) ranges from 30% to 50%; level 4 (green) applies from 50% to 75%; and level 5 (blue) is for reserves above 75%.

The red level means "maximum measures in force"; orange requires the "maintenance of all containment measures"; yellow provides for an "assessment of the situation and possible reduction in the number of hours of cuts"; green allows for the "phased lifting of some restrictions"; and blue signals a "progressive return to normality".

Support for priority institutions

SMAS also said it is continuing its operation to support priority institutions by distributing 1,000-litre water tanks intended to "strengthen the supply autonomy of the most vulnerable organisations affected by constraints in the system". Once installed, the tanks were filled by water tankers, in an operation which the municipal company said enabled a more "secure and efficient" response.

Since the beginning of the month, repeated interruptions to the water supply have been reported across Almada, particularly in Costa da Caparica, prompting the municipal council to declare an alert situation.

Almada measures to reinforce the water supply

Among the measures already announced by the Setúbal district authority are the complete suspension of supply in certain parts of the municipality and a ban on all uses of water from the public network other than domestic or essential uses. To reduce the impact of the water shortage across the municipality, especially in the Costa da Caparica area, Almada Council has already strengthened water supply with two new boreholes, which are adding a further 120 cubic metres of water to the public network every hour.