Cantareira System reaches 51.2% capacity after heavy rainfall

The Cantareira System, the primary water reservoir for the Greater São Paulo region, has surpassed 50% of its useful volume for the first time in 16 months. Following record rainfall in September and October, the reservoir reached 51.2% capacity by the end of October.

Despite this significant recovery from the 41.1% recorded in September, the National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA) and the São Paulo State Water Agency (SP Águas) announced that the system will continue to operate in the “Attention” phase (Faixa 2) throughout November. This classification applies to reservoir levels between 40% and 60%.

Under these conditions, the administrator, Sabesp, is restricted to a water withdrawal limit of 31 cubic meters per second, compared to the 33 cubic meters per second permitted under normal operating conditions (levels above 60%). Authorities continue to recommend water conservation measures to ensure long-term water security for the approximately nine million people served by the system.