Brazil water shortage: Sao Paulo devastated by its worst drought on record

AFP - As Brazil continues to battle a historic drought, millions of people in its largest city are about to run out of water. São Paulo, home to around 20 million, is experiencing its lowest rainfall since 1930, and new water-saving measures have been introduced in an attempt to manage the escalating catastrophe. Services including schools and hospitals are having to adapt to the country's newfound water struggles, with The Telegraph reporting that doctors have even been forced to cut short dialyses treatment for kidney patients. The Cândido Fontoura children's hospital has refuted claims that it went without water earlier this month, but biologist Analice Dora expressed fear: "Everyone is worried. Hospitals are the one place that can't lack water." Though there has been a recent uptick in rainfall in the region, it hasn't been enough to boost supply in a country nominally the most water-rich in the world. Current reserves stand at just 10 per cent - known as the "dead volume" - and the government has warned that it could get worse in the coming months. [caption id="attachment_70922" align="alignnone" width="460"] Brazil has been experiencing its lowest rainfall since 1930 (AFP)[/caption]