Historic Water Release at Odeleite Dam: First Since 2018 Amid Rising Water Levels

Controlled Water Release at Odeleite Dam

The Odeleite Dam, located in Castro Marim, Algarve, is set to undergo a temporary controlled discharge on Tuesday morning, marking the first such event since 2018. The spokesperson for Águas do Algarve, Teresa Fernandes, confirmed that the dam's water level has risen by approximately two meters due to heavy rainfall, necessitating the opening of spillways for safety reasons.

The discharge operation is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM, with timing being precisely calculated, which may lead to adjustments in the planned start time.

Beliche Dam Also at Risk

In addition to the Odeleite Dam, the Beliche Dam, situated downstream in the same Faro district, is also expected to experience a controlled discharge soon, as its water levels are similarly elevated. The Beliche Dam is connected to Odeleite via a tunnel that is currently closed, and it too is nearly at full capacity.

Current Water Levels

Both dams are currently operating at about 90% capacity, with Odeleite at 94% and Beliche at 89%, according to Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) data as of Monday. Furthermore, the Odelouca Dam in western Algarve has also seen a rise of two meters overnight.

The six reservoirs supplying the Algarve region are at an average capacity of 71%. The Arade Dam, also in western Algarve, has the lowest water levels at 20% but is receiving water from the Funcho Reservoir, which is at 75% capacity. Meanwhile, the Bravura Dam has seen an increase from 15% to 43% capacity recently.

On Friday, the government announced in Faro that restrictions on water consumption in the Algarve will be eased, applying a 5% reduction across all sectors, including agriculture, urban areas, and tourism.