It’s been nearly a month since Diomar Pereira has had running water at his home in Itu, a commuter city outside Sao Paulo that is at the epicentre of the worst drought to hit south-eastern Brazil in more than eight decades.
Like others in this city whose indigenous name means “big waterfall,” Pereira must scramble to find water for drinking, bathing and cooking. On a recent day when temperatures hit 90 degrees (32 Celsius), he drove to a community kiosk where people with empty soda bottles and jugs lined up to use a water spigot. Pereira filled several 13-gallon containers, which he loaded into his Volkswagen bug.
Forced to cut water use
Brazil is approaching the December start of its summer rainy season with its water cupboard nearly bare. More than 10 million people across Sao Paulo state, Brazil’s most populous and the nation’s economic engine, have been forced to cut water use over the past six months. A reservoir used by Itu has fallen to 2 percent capacity and, because its system relies on rain and groundwater rather than rivers, the city is suffering more than others.
We are entering unknown territory. If this continues, we will run out of water. We have no more mechanisms and no water stored in the closet.
Restaurants and bars are using disposable cups to avoid washing dishes, and agribusinesses are transporting soybeans and other crops by road rather than by boat in areas where rivers have dried up.
“We are entering unknown territory,” said Renato Tagnin, an expert in water resources at the environmental group Coletivo Curupira. “If this continues, we will run out of water. We have no more mechanisms and no water stored in the closet.”
No relief in sight
The Sao Paulo metropolitan area ended its last rainy season in February with just a third of the usual rain total only 9 inches (23 centimetres) over three months. Showers in October totalled just 1 inch (25 millimetres), one-fifth of normal.
Only consistent, steady summer rains will bring immediate relief, experts say.
But they also place blame on the government, which they say needs to upgrade a state water distribution network that loses more than 30 percent of its resources to leaks.
Activists and consumer groups complain the government has done too little too late and failed to keep consumers informed.
In Itu, where the taps have been dry for weeks, residents’ dream of rationing at least that would mean some water for their homes.
“I forgot what water looks like coming out of the faucet,” said Rosa Lara Leite, a woman carrying a few gallons of water in each hand at one of the city’s crowded drinking fountains.
Authorities forced the city of 160,000 to cut its daily water consumption from 16 million gallons (62 million litres) to 2 million gallons (8 million litres). Dozens of water trucks are deployed to bring in water from far off towns. Huge 5,000-gallon tanks have been set up around the city.
