Raining raises storage levels in all São Paulo reservoirs

The water crisis is far from over, but the volume stored for Latin America's largest city increased overnight (Feb 5 to 6) in the six systems under São Paulo state water utility Sabesp. Surges come as a result of nearly uninterrupted rainfall in both the metropolis and the region where the water sources are located, the company announced.

The main system, Cantareira, which serves 6.5 million people in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, is up to 5.4% from 5.2% of its capacity. After January's sparse rains, the system was able to collect nearly half the historical average for February, which stands for 80.1 millimeters (mm) in just five days, compared with the 199.1mm predicted for the entire month.

As for the Alto Tietê System, storage levels saw a more significant rise than did Cantareira, increasing from 11% to 11.5%, with a single day's collection of 43.8mm. Ever since the beginning of February, the system has received 67.6mm of rainwater, against the month's average of 192 mm.

In the Guarapiranga System, the second largest reservoir in São Paulo, the amount of water stored went from 48.1% to 49.8% of its capacity, adding up, ever since the beginning of the month, to 68.6mm of rainwater, compared to February's historical average of 192.5mm. Alto Cotia, in turn, observed an increase from 29.1% to 30.6%, which amounts to 87.8mm. The average for the month here is 178.9mm.

The Rio Claro System, in turn, holds today 30.4% of its storage capacity—up from 30% on Thursday—with an accumulated level of rainwater of 49.6mm against the average 237.8mm. As for Rio Grande, the water stored climbed from 75.1% to 76.4%. In this system, rains have provided 74.8mm during the last five days. The average for the whole month is 206.1mm.

According to the Center for Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies (Cptec), more showers are expected in southeast Brazil, including the areas where the reservoirs serving São Paulo are found.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira