"These are the results of water efficiency management, which in recent years has become a banner for the municipality of Castro Marim, with the implementation of several measures and a commitment to raising awareness in its community", says the municipality, in a statement.

According to a table from the company Águas do Algarve sent in the note, the municipality of Castro Marim presented in the month of April a difference of minus 36% in water consumption compared to the same period last year.

In the note, the Municipal Council indicates that, in addition to continuing to expand the water supply networks to the unserved population, located in the rural interior and in the municipality's mountains, it carried out a "huge investment" to combat the drought affecting the territory, the region and the country.

"Through physical work, computerization and the personal dedication of several key elements of the municipality's structure, hundreds of meters with telemetry were installed, which thus make it possible to more easily anticipate breakages and excessive consumption", emphasizes the municipality of Castro Marim, in the district of Faro.

The municipality adds that meters were installed and remote management was carried out in most of the landscaped areas of the public space, in addition to the start of the procedures for the construction and installation of Flow Measurement Zones (ZMC's) in several sections and at the main supply points, "which contribute to a faster intervention in breakages not visible on the surface".

The Castro Marim Council also emphasizes that "it is the only municipality in the sotavento to be placed in the top five of the table" of Águas do Algarve.

According to the table, the largest annual reduction in water consumption was recorded in three large tourist resorts in the municipality of Loulé: InfraMoura in Vilamoura (-52%), InfraLobo in Vale do Lobo (-52%) and InfraQuinta in Quinta do Lago (-47%).

The fourth place on the list is occupied by Castro Marim (-36%), which is followed by Lagoa (-34%) Monchique (-33%) and Vila do Bispo (-32%).

The entities that reduced their consumption the least are Águas de Vila Real de Santo António (0%), Fagar -- Faro (-1%), TaviraVerde (-5%), Ambiolhão (-7%) and EMARP -- Portimão (-12%).

According to the table, Albufeira reduced its water consumption from April 2023 to April 2024 by 29%, Alcoutim by 26%, Silves by 21%, Loulé by 18%, Aljezur by 18%, Lagos by 17% and S. Brás de Alportel by 13%.

Read Also: Algarve reduced urban water consumption by 17.9% in March compared to 2023 (Portuguese version)