2011World Water

Day

INTRODUCTION

• The following pictures, taken in “Olhão” in the Algarve - Portugal, show (positive and negative) aspects of the local water situation.

• After the 35 th slide, the pictures are taken in the “Ria Formosa” lagoon

• The last 3 slides show the relation between water consumprion and resources in the Algarve and sugests the solution to avoid the water contamination by sewage

• - “reuse versus polution”

Panoramic from Saint Miguel Hill towards “Olhão” and the “Ria Formosa” lagoon

Water Fall “Pego do Inferno”

Ancient water-mills at the riverside “Moinhos da Rocha”

River “Alface”

River “Alface”

Bridges at the rivers “Moncarapacho” and “Alface”

Water-mill and water-wheel at the river “Alface” Olhão

Public pond and water-mill pond at the river “Alface”

Public ponds “Quita de João de Ourém” and “Poço Largo”

The river “Moncarapacho”

The river “Asseca”

The river “Marim”

Negligence at river “Marim”

Sewer outlets from a public swiming pool and from the river “Marim”

Water-mill at the river “Quelfes”

Sewer outlets at the river “Quelfes”

The river “Tronco”

Sewer outlets at the river “Tronco”

Sewer in the open air

Water wheels at the sewage water plant and at “Bias”

Water-pumps – “Atrás do Cerro” and “Quelfes”

Water pond and bamboo harvesting

Water captation from the riverside

The holy fountains “Fontes Santas”

Ancient water-mills at “Fontes Santas”

Water-springs “Olheiros” once used for washing “Lavadouros” at rivers “Fuzeta” and “Tronco”

Water springs “Olheiros” at “Rocio” and at “Olhão”- the origin of the name of this town

Roman Wells “Arte Nova” and “Quelfes”

Water-captations – the wells “Pedro Neto” and “Quinta de João de Ourém”

Water-pumps – “Asseca” and “Poço Longo”

Birds at “Ria Formosa” Olhão

Fisheries at Olhão

Aquaculture - salines and shell-fish at “Ria Formosa”

The tide-mill “Moinho-de-Marés”

The tide-mill “Moinho-de-Marés” (1864)

Sewer outlets from the western sewer plant of “Olhão”

Water deposit and the poluted water at the quay of “Olhão”

Poluted water at the quay of “Olhão”

Sewer at the quay of “Olhão”

Sewer at the quay of “Olhão”- high and low tide

Sewer outlets from the western sewer plant of “Olhão”

Sewer outlets from the western sewer plant of “Olhão”

Sewer outlets at the eastern sewer plant of “Olhão”and at “Horta da Areia”

Waste of potable-water (several months) and sewage outlet inside the lagoon “Ria Formosa”

Resorts at the lagoon of “Fuzeta”

The “Marina Village” resourt at “Olhão”

Before and after - “Barra da Fuzeta, Ria Formosa”

WATER USE AND WATER RESOURSES IN THE ALGARVE

.(Anual average) Area Nº habit. Use Origen, Potential,

ha equiv.,103 106m3 106m3 106m3

Irrigated agriculture 20 000 _ 140 _Golfs and greens 1 500 _ 10 _Resident population _ 400 30 _Seasonal population _ 400 30 _Dams _ _ _ 80 170Aquifers _ _ _ 130 200Sewage plants _ _ _ 0,2 50Algarve 500 000 800 210 210 420

• Irrigation represents 70% of water use in the Algarve (210*106 m3).

• Reclaimed wastewater reache12% of water resources (420*106 m3).

• The sewage autlets (50*106 m3) are tree times larger in sumer time.

Aqua et civitas

In old Persian the first word in the dictionary is ab, meaning water, from which comes the derivative concept of civilization abadan.

Climate and climate change, related to rain fall, had a decisive importance in the rise and fall of civilizations.

Water has been and continues to be used for two principle objectives – irrigation and urban consumption.

The integrated management of the different water resources (superficial, aquifer and wastewater) is essential.

In Roman (151 aC.- 410) and Arab (711-1250) times the highest standards of water management were achieved.

Nowadays, we are in a period characterized by the waste and abuse of water …

Wastewater increase the crops grow, while reduce fish, shell fish and water quality.Wastewater reuse represents the alternative to the sewage outlets at sea, rivers and lakes.

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