Dry weather aggravates São Paulo water crisis

The level of water at Cantareira, the main water supply system in São Paulo state, was seen this morning (Oct 13) to have lowered once again—reserves total a record-low 4.7% of the system's capacity, says state water utility Sabesp.

The water crisis is expected to go on. According to the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Research (Cptec), no substantial raining is expected for the next ten days in the southeast.

One year ago, the system was operating with 39% of its capacity and reserves had an accumulated rain volume of 53.8 millimeters. In the first 13 days of October, this volume has reached 0.4 millimeters.

In spite of not facing as critical a scenario as that of Cantareira, the other water supply systems in São Paulo have also been experiencing volume reductions. At Alto Tietê, the water level stands at 10.5% against the 46.9% observed a year ago. Water reserves were also seen to plunge dramatically in 12 months' time in the systems of Guarapiranga, (77.3% to 46.9%) Alto Cotia (86.3% to 32.8%), Rio Grande (93.7% to 74.3%) and Rio Claro (90.8% to 54.3%).

Meanwhile, the use of the technical reserve (also referred to as dead volume, the water resting in the bottom of the reserves) has kept most of the 6.4 million people under the coverage of the Cantareira System supplied.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira