Running dry in São Paulo (Image: Sebastiao Moreira/EPA/Corbis)

LIGHTS out. Brazil’s south-east, home to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, is facing its worst drought since 1930 and the dry weather looks set to continue. More than 90 cities have imposed water rationing affecting close to 4 million people, according to media reports.

The government has called on Brazilians to cut their water and energy use. “We are living an atypical situation and it is very important that people do their part and avoid the waste of water,” the environment minister, Izabella Teixeira, said at a press conference last week.

Low water levels also spell trouble for electricity generation. Brazil relies on hydroelectric power for around 65 per cent of its supply and is now facing shutdown of some plants. Towns and cities have already been hit by blackouts. “The situation is quite difficult,” says Luiz Pinguelli Rosa, director of the Coppe Institute for engineering research at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.


Low rainfall is only partly to blame, Pinguelli says. A lack of planning in the energy sector has magnified the problem, he says, as has continuing to run hydroelectric plants despite low water levels – instead of switching to thermoelectric power.

“The only solution in the short term is to reduce the consumption of water and energy.” In the long run, Brazil should focus on solar energy, Pinguelli says, but this will need political will and funding.

This article appeared in print under the headline “Brazil hit by worst drought in 80 years”