Amidst the intense heat, instability in the electrical grid causes problems in the water supply in Porto Alegre

Problems in the power grid affect the water supply in Porto Alegre this Sunday (16). Parts of several neighborhoods in the capital, such as Auxiliadora, Bela Vista, Higienópolis, Passo d'Areia, and São João, suffer from instability in the supply of water service, according to the Porto Alegre City Hall.

The disturbance occurs due to power outages or voltage problems that can stop water pumping stations. The oscillations are registered due to the intense heat wave that hit the state at the beginning of the year, which increases energy consumption, according to the Municipal Department of Water and Sewage (Dmae). Dmae's on duty teams are working together with the energy concessionaire to reestablish the functioning of the affected stations.

This Sunday morning, the pumping stations São Manoel, Praça Moema, Manoel Elias III, Luzitana, Cristiano Fischer, São José, and Jardim Ipê presented instability. The stoppage of the stations interrupts distribution. This fact added to the high water consumption in the middle of the hot weather can cause reservoir levels to drop. Without a minimum level to resume pumping and distribution, there may be occasional water shortages, especially in high areas and at the network ends of the systems.

At this moment, the localities that may be partially affected by the instability in the systems are: Auxiliadora, Bela Vista, Higienópolis, Passo d'Areia, São João, Nossa Senhora das Graças, Vila Boa Vista, Colina do Prado, São José, São José Comunitária, Bom Jesus, Vila Jardim, Vila Fátima-Pinto, Praça Baltazar de Bem and Cefer II, Intercap, Vila João Pessoa, Coronel Aparício Borges, Agronomia, Jardim Bento Gonçalves, Vila dos Sargentos, Vila Tijuca, Beco dos Marianos, Vila Grécia, Bom Jesus, Jardim Itu-Sabará and Carvalho, Vila Fátima-Pinto, Parque Morumbi, Chácara Margarita, Brasília, Cefer I and II, Coronel Aparício Borges, Menina Alvira, Vila São Guilherme and 1º de Setembro, Pitinga and João Antônio da Silveira road.

On Saturday night (15th), at least 12 locations suffered from a lack of water after a tree toppled a pole and caused the shutdown of the Catumbi-Orfanotrófio Treated Water Pumping Station (Ebat). The problem was corrected during the early hours of this Sunday.

Information about oscillations and interruptions in the water supply in Porto Alegre can be followed on twitter @dmaepoa