Brazil’s most populous city, São Paulo, is nearly without water as its tough drought continues.
Once it had the world’s largest supply of water, but the lowest rainfall since 1930 has rendered the reservoirs close to dry. One of the main reservoir networks is at just 10%.
Already last year, families and businesses reported reduced pressure and dry taps
Last month, there were government warnings that the reservoirs could dry up completely in four or five months. The reservoirs supply nearly 10 million people in the metropolitan area.
In addition to households and businesses, schools, universities and hospitals are trying to cope with less water, although hospital hygiene depends on water.
Rainfall in February was above average, but insufficient to make much of a difference
São Paulo's state water utility Sabesp said it was taking action, but did not rule out rationing. It is introducing fines for excessive use and incentives for families to use less as well as installing water savers on taps.
An election is due in October and accusations have been made that the government kept the scale of the problem out of public view. In January the state governor admitted for the first time that some water rationing was taking place.
Critics say the government should have done more earlier on to minimise the effects of the crisis.
