Sao Paulo facing water rationing

SAO Paulo is facing ‘imminent water rationing’ less than six weeks before the city hosts the opening match of the World Cup.

The lowest levels of rainfall since 1930 has seen rivers run dry and there are fears the drought could affect visitors during the tournament.

Brazil face Croatia at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena on June 12 and England play Uruguay at the stadium on June 19.

‘If it continues like this, it will be a big joke during the World Cup,’ said Paulo Costa, director of H2C, a consultancy firm specialising in water use.

‘It's extremely serious and we're close to the World Cup – the government doesn't do its homework about what we need to do. We're in this situation where rationing is imminent.

‘The country with the biggest supply of water in the world has a big problem with water rationing. And one of the biggest metropolises in the world, Sao Paulo, doesn't have water for visitors, for one of the biggest global events. What we're going through is lamentable.’