Residents of Salto (SP) say they have been suffering from water supply problems in the city for several days. The Autonomous Water and Sewage Service (Saae), however, denies that residents are going through the so-called "rotation" and talks about scheduled and preventive closures.
This Thursday (20), several neighborhoods in the city were without water. Among them: Santa Cruz, Donalísio, Nações, Rondon, Vila Progresso, Celani, Bela Vista and São José.
Residents say that even when the water returns, the pressure is not enough to reach their homes. Furthermore, they claim that they are not notified in advance about when the supply will be cut or restored.
On TV TEM, the superintendent of Saae de Salto, Cesar Piva, said that, depending on consumption in the neighborhood, the boxes run out sooner. "So, it is necessary to close it to recover the level, to be opened some time later. Today, we are unable to maintain 24 hours of water in the reservoir to supply everyone."
He also stated that localized problems also hinder distribution. As an example, he cited a project in the São José neighborhood. “We didn't know exactly the problem, but we were trying to locate it. That's why it took so long.”
On Monday (17), the superintendent's argument had already been similar. "Salto is not on rotation. Saae is carrying out a scheduled and preventive closure of the reservoirs to maintain the level. This measure is necessary, weather events, very high temperatures, end up with much higher consumption", he began.
"That's why we need to carry out this preventive closure of the reservoirs. We do online monitoring, we monitor all reservoir levels here and depending on the level, it drops a little more, we close it for recovery. Salto is supplied by Ribeirão Piraí and Buru. The two sources have good water, there is no problem", he added.
The superintendent also highlighted that part of the city's pipes are more than 40 years old, which can cause supply problems. Piva highlighted investments in the sector and said that, by 2028, the city will distribute water to more than 400 thousand inhabitants, more than triple the current population.
Finally, he assured that residents can request a water truck to restore distribution.
Silvana Hass needs to run to do her homework when the water decides to appear. In the laundry room, the problem is pictured: bottles and basins without water and lots of clothes to wash. "We go there almost every week to complain. Nothing is done. We've had no water here since Saturday." The family even uses a bottle to take a shower.
There is never water, but the bill always arrives. Neri Oliveira shows his dissatisfaction with the situation. “The water continues to come less, but the amount is greater.”
In a note, SP Águas says that it monitors water conditions in the Salto region, included in the Water Resources Management Subunits (sub-UGRHIs) of the Jundiaí River and the Middle Tietê Superior. The company claims that, in July, both were classified in Stage 2, Alert, according to the agency's Water Scarcity Protocol.
"The classification is related to the Drought Monitor, which indicates Moderate Drought. Stage 2 indicated by SP Águas does not, in itself, mean a shortage. Any interruptions in Salto's supply must be checked with the municipality's service provider."
