“It was proposed to hoteliers with great responsibility, to reduce water consumption, and that is the effort we are going to make, and we believe that we will spend a summer without affecting tourism at all,” João Soares, director of a hotel in Quarteira told Lusa.

All those responsible and entities with an interest in the sector want, above all, to preserve the image and quality of the Algarve destination for tourism, which is currently the most important industry in the region.

Restaurants also want to contribute to curbing water consumption, but sometimes it is difficult to convince employees of some establishments of this need, a businesswoman told Lusa.

“I don’t work here alone. I try to tell my employees not to use so much water, we can't always be on top of them, but we'll try to make an effort to do so”, said Manuela Henriques, owner of a restaurant on Estrada Nacional 125.

The businesswoman is convinced that foreign tourists are “more aware of these problems” than national tourists, arguing that public officials should promote information campaigns calling for water saving measures.

Another measure that should be announced in this area is the creation of a 'green seal' certifying that a given hotel unit complies with sustainability rules, and is making an effort to reduce water consumption, as a way of combating extreme drought.

Most people contacted by the Lusa agency are willing to make an effort, although some are less optimistic about their possible results.

“If we have no other option, we will have to do it, but it is not easy. Because people with money have already paid a lot of attention to water. We can do a little more, but it’s not easy”, said a passerby on the Quarteira promenade.

According to her, it will also be difficult to convince the many tourists that the southernmost region receives about the importance of reducing water consumption: “I don't think tourists come on vacation thinking about saving water, because they will say they don't pay for that,” he said.

Even so, this woman from Quarteira stated that she will make an effort and that, if necessary, people, instead of taking a shower every day, will have to do so more infrequently.

Some young people from the Algarve interviewed by Lusa seem more aware of the problem and are even coming up with ideas to help reduce water consumption.

”Maybe change some behaviours. For example, not having the tap always on when I'm brushing my teeth or even turning off the shower when I'm using shampoo”, said Ana Rita Vieira.

The young woman is convinced, even so, that for some it will be difficult to use less water in a “very consumerist” time, but concludes that, “if everyone makes an effort, we will succeed”.

Next to her, her friend, Elvira Oblyvana, also considers it “difficult” to change consumer attitudes, but assures that she will make an effort, adding that she will spend less water “removing makeup” and reduce the time she takes to shower.

“I think we can easily save 15% of water”, said Lucina Tomé, who understands why the authorities are asking for savings in consumption, an appeal that, according to her, is also made by her father.

Also taking a walk on the well-known Quarteira promenade, retired Madalena Diogo argued that each person's attitude will depend on their “conscience”.

“In government terms, perhaps it was necessary to take measures sooner, because this was expected. Now let’s see what each one is capable of doing”, she summarized.

The executive announced that the Algarve will have water cuts this year of 25% in agriculture and 15% in the urban sector, which includes tourism, to preserve water reserves and face the drought.

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, indicated that in total there are 46 measures that should be included in a resolution by the Council of Ministers that will be approved soon to ensure this objective.

"We are finalising a package of measures […] that we will take in the short term. Some of them have to do with flow reducers, namely in showers, in sanitary supports”, among others, said João Soares, adding that the measures will be taken “without obviously harming customers”.

The reduction of flow pressure, the suspension of second meters and specific measures for the tourism sector were advanced by Duarte Cordeiro, and it is expected that the full set of measures will be known in the coming days.

According to Duarte Cordeiro, the measures are mandatory given the current situation in the Algarve, where the capacity of reservoirs is at a level of 25%, compared to 45% last year at the same time.

Technicians are convinced that, if nothing is done, the region will only have water until the end of August and that the package of measures will allow it to extend the supply of water until the end of the year.