Heavy rain caused by storms Irene and Juan explain rapid rise in the volume of the dam.
In 24 hours the Alqueva dam, part of the Guadiana River, stored 79 cubic hectometers (hm3) of water. It is the equivalent of the annual urban consumption of the Algarve, a region that faces restrictions in the distribution of water.
On Saturday the reservoir had 3223 hm3 of water, with the quota of 141.05 meters high, already the next day reached 3303 hm3, with a height of 148.45 meters, the Company for Development and Infrastructures of Alqueva (EDIA) announced.
The rapid rise in the volume of water resulted from the intense rain caused by the depressions Irene and Juan. The dam now reaches 80% of the maximum capacity, when six days ago it was at 72%.
Meanwhile, the Spanish government has made known to the Portuguese Government the intention to use water from Alqueva to supply the province of Huelva, namely the natural park of Doñana, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, said in a statement.
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