Climate

Experts believe that Portugal’s agricultural sector is a major contributor to the country’s growing water scarcity. Much of the industry depends on water-intensive crops and outdated irrigation methods that waste significant amounts of water. In the Algarve region, for example, a 600-hectare avocado plantation has drawn criticism from environmental organisations such as Quercus, which warn that avocados require exceptionally high amounts of water, particularly unsustainable in such a dry region. 

Portugal’s water table is sinking. A water table is the upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater, the point below the Earth's surface where all pores and spaces in the soil and rock are filled with water. This sinkage leads to wells running dry, land subsidence, and contamination of aquifers (a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater). Essentially, Portugal’s main source of water is disappearing.  

A desalination plant is currently under construction in the Algarve region and should be completed in 2026. Excessive and unregulated groundwater extraction in this region has caused saltwater to mix with the groundwater, rendering it unusable and damaging soil. Desalination efforts and strict regulations are needed to prevent further damage to the ecosystem.  

With a steady stream of water still coming out of taps, many people in Portugal remain unaware of the severity of the crisis. The hidden nature of groundwater depletion makes the problem easy to ignore, yet its consequences are far-reaching and long-lasting. Without significant changes in agricultural practices, stricter water management policies, and greater public awareness, Portugal risks facing irreversible damage to its ecosystems, food production, and long-term water security. The challenge now lies not only in developing technological solutions like desalination but also in fostering a cultural shift toward valuing and conserving one of the country’s most vital and vulnerable resources, water.