Sao Paulo 'faces water rations' as World Cup nears

Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo. Photo / Thinkstock

Sao Paulo is facing "imminent water rationing" after the worst drought on record, less than six weeks before the city hosts the World Cup opening ceremony and first game.

Rivers serving the biggest city in South America have been running dry for months after the lowest rainfall since 1930. The water level dropped below 11 per cent this week.

Experts have warned that if the situation does not improve, it will affect visitors due to arrive in the city within a month for the start of the World Cup on June 12. There are also signs that the authorities are taking more drastic measures. "I go the whole dawn without water," said Mariana Lanna Pinheiro, 34, from the west of Sao Paulo. "I have called Sabesp [the state water company] 12 times and they say they do not have a rationing rota."

Authorities have denied they are rationing water, but residents have already complained that supplies are being cut at certain times of day. "If it continues like this, it will be a big joke during the World Cup," said Paulo Costa, director of H2C, a consultancy firm specialising in water use.

Some 8.45 million people in Sao Paulo and the surrounding area are supplied by the Cantareira system of rivers and dams, which measured just 247 million cubic metres between October and March, compared with 347 million cubic metres in the previous worst drought.

Sabesp said it was promoting sensible water use and offering discounts for families who reduce their consumption.

Figures suggest the average water flow from the Cantareira system has dropped by 23 per cent from 32 cubic metres per second to 25. "This reduction is significant and was achieved without imposing classical rationing," said Prof Rubem Porto, a civil engineer professor at the University of Sao Paulo. "Many people ... say that we are already rationing. Will it be necessary to reduce it more? In my opinion, yes."

Demonstrators hold a banner that reads "There won't be a Cup", as they protest against money spent on the World Cup preparations in Sao Paulo. Photo / AP

Prof Porto said the state government had reserves to last up to seven months while large hotels have their own contingency systems but he predicted a difficult year next year. Earlier this week, Geraldo Alckmin, Sao Paulo state governor, announced a fine for those who increased their water consumption.

But Carlos Roberto de Paula, 54, a fisherman, said the situation was likely to get worse. "People are going to come and there won't be any water," he said.