“When the intensity of rain is so heavy it is impossible to
have solutions, because whatever the flow is, it cannot handle situations with
this intensity of water”, Rogério Bacalhau (PSD) told Lusa.
According to the mayor, the heavy rain, which caused flooding,
with material damage, “is a specific situation, about which little can be done,
except to minimise the damage and help people”.
“I regret what happened, I understand people, their
concerns, that they are desperate in the face of these occurrences, but there
are no major actions to be taken by the council because as soon as the rain
stopped the water flow was immediate”, he said.
Rogério Bacalhau underlined that the rainwater drainage
system in the city of Faro “is not inadequate, because as soon as there was a
decrease in rainfall, the water disappeared, demonstrating that it is working
properly”.
“If we had a different system, probably, given the intense
rain in a short period of time, we would still have floods”, he noted.
The mayor also said that "the floods also did not
result from the lack of cleaning of the gutters, given that during Sunday the
municipal services proceeded to clean them in the areas considered to be the
most problematic".
According to the official, the heavy rain that hit the county, with greater incidence in the city centre, “did not affect housing that would require the relocation of people”.
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What a ridiculous statement. Of course something can be done. Other places in the world get intense rain and don’t flood. Unfortunately the undersized system installed means the solution will be difficult and expensive. But here’s an idea, STOP PAVING EVERY SURFACE! Start allowing infiltration during the times of less intense rain. Use retention ponds to store and slow the rain during periods of heavy rain. There are solutions. One just needs to stop only thinking of solutions the are Portugal based. There is a big world out there with new innovations and solutions.
By Nicola from Algarve on 07 Dec 2022, 13:07
The water must be nearing the Mayors lips after so many years of flooding in the same areas, and subsequent claims entering the flood gates. If you know what I mean.
By Ollie B. from Algarve on 08 Dec 2022, 11:14