Three Months Ahead of the World Cup, Water Supply in the Opening Match Host City is Worrisome

03/07/2014 - 07h27

Starting Monday (10), São Paulo state government will reduce in about 10% the water capture at the Cantareira system, the reservoir that supplies to 8.8 million people in greater São Paulo.

The system has reached its 16% capacity, the lowest level in history.

The water capture in the Cantareira reservoir will decrease from 30m³/second to 27.9 m³/second.

As anticipated by Folha on Friday, the cut will happen as a result of a determination given by technical entities regulating the water supply system in São Paulo.

To minimize the effects of this action and prevent rationing in the state, Sabesp, the Sao Paulo sanitation company, will use water from other reservoirs, Alto Tietê and Guarapiranga systems, to supply water to about 2 million people.

According to the governor, Geraldo Alckmin, the integrated supply system allows to decrease the water capture from the water source that will be compensated by other systems.

Compensating the decrease in water capture at Cantareira by diverting water from other systems, according to experts, is one of the last available resources to avoid water rationing in Grande São Paulo.

They claim that the water exchange operation could bring risks to the supply in affected regions. The governor, however, insists there is no need for rationing in São Paulo.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

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Nelson Antoine/Parceiros Folhapress

Water supply in the opening match host city is worrisome