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Portugal pledges fast anti-drought investment in Algarve tourism center

Portugal's federal government promised on Thursday to speed financial investments worth 366 million euros ($ 397.7. million) to combat a systemic dry spell in the tourismdependent. southern region of Algarve and rapidly supply water equivalent. to a year's metropolitan usage there.

Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho stated the. financial investments will include a desalination plant, repairing 125 km. of pipelines to lower water losses, adjoining some. tanks, and using dealt with wastewater at golf courses.

She informed a parliamentary committee the brand-new federal government, which. was sworn in April, will not discuss the jobs any. even more and wishes to execute them as quickly as possible,. generally with making use of the EU pandemic recovery funds.

Algarve is the area with the most water scarcity issues,. and dry spell there has actually now become permanent, systemic, Carvalho. said.

A 2022 study revealed that climate modification had actually already left the. Iberian peninsula at its driest in 1,200 years.

According to data from the environmental company APA, 36 out. of the 60 reservoirs it keeps track of across the nation were more. than 80% full in May, but in the Algarve water levels were at. in between 22% and 43%.

The federal government last month eased some limitations enforced in. February on water usage in the region, after rains partly. filled up the dams.

Agricultural watering in the region will have to visit. approximately 13% from 2023's levels, compared to the previous. 25% cut.

(source: Reuters)