Alqueva: Dam has risen a little over a meter in twelve days of rain in the region.
Despite the heavy rain that has fallen in the Alentejo region, the Alqueva dam is very far from achieving the maximum quota (152 meters) and storage volume (4.150 hectometres) of water.
since the 23,00 hours last day 28 Feb., until 23,00 Sunday hours, 11 March, the level of the Alqueva dam rose only 1,74 meters, having stored 3.022,72 cubic hectometres of water.
The reservoir is 5,31 meters of total filler, corresponding to be able to receive more 1.127,28 cubic hectometres of water.
The Portuguese Association of Environment (APA) He revealed that the last two weeks there was an increase in the percentage of storage 49 reservoirs. In the Mondego basins, Tagus and Arade, eight reservoirs have registered an increase of 20%.
The Minister of the Environment said the rainfall has replenished water levels of dams, but at a pace “rather slow” in the South. “We have to separate the country in half. North of the River Tagus, dams are very close to their maximum capacity and some already reached”, said João Pedro Matos Fernandes.
No on, although it is to be “water fittings every day”, there are still troubling situations, like the Monte da Rocha dam, in Ourique county, that caters “a wide range of people”, and still with only 9,6% capacity, said the governor, adding that caring for consumption must continue.
12 January 2010- historic day in the Alqueva dam.
The Bayou Alqueva Dam reached first (photo of the maximum filling that date), the maximum capacity, making it the largest artificial lake in Europe.
The rain that fell at the time in the region bathed by the reservoir, situated on the Guadiana River, It took the level of water stored to reach the maximum quota 152 meters, entre as 14:00h e as 15:00h, as measured Development Company and Alqueva Infrastructure (EDIA).
This was a volume of water stored 4.150 cubic hectometres and that is the level of the full supply quota 152 meters, one meter below the maximum full level so that the reservoir is prepared, the company needs.
The fill from 08 February 2002, when they closed the floodgates, Alqueva is already the largest artificial lake in Europe, with a flooded area 250 square kilometers and about 1.100 kilometers margins.
