The mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo, asked this Saturday (4) for the population to ration water consumption, given the interruption in the operation of four of the six water treatment plants operated by the Municipal Department of Water and Sewage (Dmae) .
Several areas of Porto Alegre were flooded after Lake Guaíba, which crosses the city, exceeded the flood level and, this Saturday, exceeded five meters, the highest level ever recorded.
There is no forecast for the stagnant water stations to return to operation, informed the city hall. They are: Islands, Windmills, São João and Sadness.
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Guaíba has been receiving the immense volume of water accumulated during the storms that hit the interior of Rio Grande do Sul over the last week.
“That’s why we appeal to the population to make conscious use of water, because we will have supply problems until the flooding subsides,” Melo wrote on his account on the social network X.
The two water stations still in operation – Menino Deus and Belém Novo – operate at minimum capacity due to the turbidity of the water, according to Dmae.
“We spare no effort to recover the stations. After the waters subside, it will be necessary to assess the physical and electrical damage,” said the department’s director, Mauricio Loss, at a press conference.
Suspension of classes
Melo also announced the continuation of the suspension of classes in the municipal education network for another two days – Monday (6) and Tuesday (7). He also reinforced the appeal for residents of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul to avoid leaving their homes as much as possible.
Civil Defense reported that more than 60% of the state’s municipalities were affected by the storms.
According to Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento, 860.9 thousand people, 28% of the company’s total customers, are without water supply. Around 350,000 people are without electricity. The floods also affected telecommunications services (telephone and internet) in 128 municipalities.
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This Saturday (4), there are 128 sections on 61 highways with total and partial closures, including roads and bridges, according to the 9am update.
Bus station and airport inoperative
The Porto Alegre Bus Station, which is located on the banks of the Guaíba, interrupted travel, as did Salgado Filho International Airport, which is in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
