By Brazil Stock Guide – The Cantareira water system will shift to an alert operational mode in April after reservoir levels surpassed the threshold required for increased water withdrawals, according to Brazil’s National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA) and São Paulo’s state water authority.
Data released on Tuesday (March 31) showed the system reached 43.62% of its usable volume, up from 35.42% recorded on Thursday (February 27). The improvement places the system above the 40% benchmark, triggering the transition to “Alert Level 2” under Brazil’s joint regulatory framework.
Under the new operating conditions, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo, or SABESP (SBSP3 BZ), will be allowed to withdraw up to 31 cubic meters per second from the Cantareira system. That marks an increase from the 27 cubic meters per second authorized through March, though still below the 33 cubic meters per second permitted under normal conditions.
The adjustment follows rules established in Resolution No. 925/2017, introduced after Brazil’s 2014–2015 water crisis to provide greater predictability and supply security. During the wet season, which runs through May, water releases to the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí river basins will be managed with increased flexibility through directives issued by São Paulo’s water authority.
SABESP may also supplement supply by using water transferred from the Jaguari hydropower reservoir in the Paraíba do Sul basin, within regulatory limits.
Regulators emphasized the need for continued demand management, urging both utilities and consumers to reduce water use and minimize system losses. The Cantareira system supplies roughly half of the São Paulo metropolitan area and supports multiple uses, including water provision to Campinas and surrounding regions.
The system comprises five interconnected reservoirs — Jaguari, Jacareí, Cachoeira, Atibainha and Paiva Castro — with a total capacity of approximately 981.6 billion liters. Since 2018, an interconnection with the Jaguari reservoir in the Paraíba do Sul basin has helped reinforce regional water security.
Sabesp launches water conservation campaign as drought season begins
Sabesp (SBS) on Tuesday unveiled a new campaign promoting responsible water use as the rainy season ends and drought conditions begin in Brazil’s largest metropolitan area. The initiative targets 22 million residents in Greater São Paulo and frames the company as a proactive player in addressing climate-related risks.
The campaign departs from traditional seasonal messaging by emphasizing measurable operational results. At the center of the narrative is a planned R$5 billion ($1 billion) investment in water security across the metropolitan region through 2027, aimed at delivering long-term solutions to recurring supply challenges.
Sabesp highlighted key infrastructure measures supporting the campaign, including a new water intake system at Itapanhaú that increased the Alto Tietê system’s capacity by 17%. The company also cited 28 ongoing structural projects and pressure management improvements that have preserved 120 billion liters of water—roughly equivalent to the combined monthly consumption of cities such as São Paulo, Guarulhos, São Bernardo do Campo, Mauá and Cotia.
The communication strategy is designed as a 360-degree media rollout, spanning broadcast and pay television, streaming platforms, digital portals and social media, alongside radio spots and print placements. The approach aims to maintain consistent engagement while delivering both investment data and practical consumption guidance.
“The communication shows that the company’s structural actions are as essential as the role of each citizen. It is a call for shared responsibility, supported by strong operational execution,” said Samanta Souza, Sabesp’s executive director of institutional relations and sustainability.
Leave a Reply