Sao Paulo threatened with water rationing

The metropolitan area of Sao Paulo faces water rationing as the reservoirs are drying up, O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper reported Monday. The Cantareira system, which provides water to some 9 million of the 20 million people living in the world's most densely-populated area, is now at a record low of 15 percent of its capacity, said the newspaper. In order to avoid water rationing in the state capital, the Sao Paulo state government has decided to channel water from other dams. But fears for rationing remain as water diverted might not be enough to make up losses in the system. A crisis committee estimated that the Cantareira system might dry up by June, when Sao Paulo will host the FIFA World Cup. In order to prevent such a situation, water distribution company Sabesp has started to pump water from deep underground. Some 400 million liters of water are expected to pump into the Cantareira system by May.