The worst drought in almost a century has left millions of Brazilians facing water shortages and the risk of power blackouts, complicating the country\u2019s efforts to recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The agricultural centres in S\u00e3o Paulo state and Mato Grosso do Sul have been worse affected, after the November-March rainy season produced the lowest level of rainfall in 20 years.<\/p>\n
Water levels in the Cantareira system of reservoirs, which serves about 7.5m people in S\u00e3o Paulo city, dropped to below one-tenth of its capacity this year. Brazil\u2019s mines and energy ministry has called it country\u2019s worst drought in 91 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cLately we\u2019ve been without water every other day, but it was usually at night. But on Thursday we had no water all day,\u201d said Nilza Maria Silva Duarte from S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s working class east zone.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (subscription).<\/p>\n \u201cThe lack of water in the rivers and reservoirs means farmers won\u2019t be able to irrigate their lands, which will lead to a fall in agricultural production,\u201dhttps:\/\/t.co\/uxQZ601z9q<\/a><\/p>\n — Sam Cowie (@SamCowie84) June 19, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n