São Paulo Urges Immediate Water Use Cuts as Heat Wave Strains Drought-Weakened Supply

Overview

• The state issued a Dec. 25 alert asking residents across São Paulo to reduce water use at once due to extreme heat and prolonged low rainfall.
• Sabesp reports demand spikes of up to 60% in some regions during the heat wave, increasing pressure on systems that serve Greater São Paulo.
• São Paulo reached 35.9°C at Mirante de Santana on Dec. 25, the year's highest and a December record, with an atmospheric blocking pattern under an Inmet orange warning through Dec. 26.
• Authorities are keeping expanded nighttime pressure reductions in place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., conducting network maneuvers, and sending water trucks to targeted areas to preserve supply.
• The Cantareira system is near or below 20% capacity, and the government says current management measures are saving more than 1.2 million 500‑liter water tanks per day.