Portugal: Water levels fall in December

Lisbon: The amount of water stored fell in 10 river basins and increased in two, compared to the last day of the previous month, according to data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH).

December 2024 storage by river basin were lower than the December storage averages (1990/91 to 2023/24), except in the Cávado/Ribeiras Costeiras, Douro, Mondego, Ribeiras do Oeste and Guadiana basins.

At the end of December, the Barlavento basin continued to have the smallest amount of water, just 12.6% (12.6% at the end of November), when the average was 61.5%.

Of the 60 monitored reservoirs, 10 have water availability greater than 80% of the total volume and 12 have less than 40% of the total volume.

According to SNIRH data available today, at the end of December, the Barlavento (12.6%), Arade (29.7%), Mira (36.4%), and Sado (48.4%) basins had the lowest water availability.

The Guadiana and Mondego basins were those with the highest volume of water, with 76.6% and 73.8%, respectively, followed by Douro (71.9%), Cávado (69.4%), Tagus (66% ) and West (68.6%).

Each river basin may correspond to more than one reservoir.