Main content

Brazil: Concerns over water insecurity

The Parana River, one of the main waterways of the Latin American continent, is at its lowest level for at least half a century.

The Parana River, one of the main waterways of the Latin American continent, is at its lowest level for at least half a century, due to a prolonged drought in Brazil that scientists attribute to climate change.

The Parana is the source of drinking water for millions of people and is a commercial grain export hub that provides the livelihood for fishing communities and irrigation for farmers.

Professor Jose Marengo is a climatologist at the National Centre for Monitoring of Natural Disasters in Sao Paulo. He told Newsday that this is leading to water insecurity.

鈥淭he rivers are the main transportation for soybeans, sugar and corn. With low levels of the river, this transportation almost stops and that is affecting the economy.鈥

鈥淚n some cities in Brazil, during the summer season, we may have a major situation there because the water services are going down and people get very upset because they don't have water running in their houses, they have to rely on water trucks.鈥

Photo: A man fills a community cistern with water from a water truck in rural Brazil (Getty Images)

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes