Drought Threatens Water Supply for 10 Percent of Portuguese

March 9, 2005

A recent study said that a long-lasting drought threatens to disrupt water supplies for 10 percent of Portugal's roughly 10 million residents this year if it continues, the AFP reported.

According to the study by water-regulator IRAR, the regions most at risk are those in the center and south of the country which rely mostly on wells instead of dams for their water.

The study explained that in these localities it may be necessary to ship water from other regions, open new wells and launch public education campaigns that urge water conservation this year if the dry weather continues.

Portugal is suffering its worst drought in decades. The country received an average of 21.7 inches of precipitation last year, compared with an average of 37.2 inches between 1961 and 1990, according to national weather office figures.

The dry weather, which has continuously harmed crops and caused livestock to starve, is expected to stay in 2005. The country precipitation levels were less than 20 percent of normal levels in January.

In January outgoing Environment Minister Luis Guedes ruled out the possibility of the government rationing water in the worst-affected areas, three months after he threatened to ration water in the southernmost province of Algarve if the region did not receive enough rain by the end of 2004, according to the AFP.

Tourism industry officials had condemned talk of water rationing, arguing it could frighten visitors away from the Algarve, the nation's main tourist center.

Environmentalists estimate Portugal wastes some 780,000,000 gallons of water each year.

Source: AFP

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