Facing the challenge of extreme climate: the case of Metropolitan Sao Paulo

ABSTRACT

This article describes the hydrologic conditions that resulted in the most severe drought ever experienced in Metropolitan São Paulo (2014–2015). The dramatic situation was tackled by structural and non-structural initiatives by water authorities to avoid social chaos in a region home to more than 21 million people. The article also considers the post-crisis scenario when, in 2018, the metropolis was hit by another serious drought. Due to more rational consumption, a better prepared water system and the start-up of two major water transfer structures, which added new contributions from nearby basins, the critical situation was not perceived by the population.

KEYWORDS:

• São Paulo
• extreme climatological conditions
• water demand management
• pricing
• communication strategies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary data can be accessed here.