Águas de São Nicolau attributes the reduction in water supply to Algodoeiro to drought and prioritizes human consumption

Ribeira Brava, July 3 (Inforpress) – The chairman of the board of directors of the Empresa Águas de São Nicolau (São Nicolau Water Company) stated that the reduction in water for irrigation in Algodoeiro is due to water scarcity, prioritization of human consumption, and legal limits on borehole exploitation.

In statements made today to Inforpress, in response to complaints from farmers who denounced the reduction in irrigation time from two hours to one hour, Carlos Silva explained that the current situation results from the lack of rain and the limited capacity of existing boreholes to exploit the water.

According to the company’s chairman, the water situation in the area has changed significantly over the years; he pointed out that, when the system was first introduced, the population of the village of Tarrafal was much smaller than it is today and the available water was sufficient to meet a lower demand.

“Human consumption comes first, then animals, and only after that agriculture,” he said, emphasising that the company only distributes the water that is actually available and cannot exceed the extraction limits set for the boreholes, as this would jeopardise groundwater resources and result in penalties.

WM/AA

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