Companhia de Saneamento Basico Sabesp : The Greater SP’s Reservoirs storage more than doubled in 2015

The six main Systems of SP Metro Region closed out 2015 in a much better level than in 2014. Compared to last year the reservoirs received 402.13 billion liters of water, which is an increase of 133% in the same comparison. In order to have an idea, it's almost half of Cantareia System's active volume, which totals 982.07 billion liters of water.

In December four of those systems had an above average rainfall, leaving only Guarapiranga e Rio Grande out. There was also a highlight for the water inflow (water intake in the reservoirs). Guarapiranga and Alto Tiete's water inflow was above the historical average. Cantareira followed the average. In total, more than 143.1 billion liters of water dropped in those six reservoirs, which represents an increase of 25.54%. The rainfall and Sabesp's works enabled, on December 30, Cantareira to recover a volume that corresponds to two technical reserves.

Bonus - In December, the Greater SP population adhesion to the Bonus Program reduced compared to the previous month to 77%.

The total saved volume prevented the company to withdraw 5.6 thousand liters per second from those six reservoirs. This same volume is sufficient to supply around 1.8 million people, which corresponds approx. to the following municipalities: Sorocaba, Osasco and Ribeirao Preto. It means, in December the population saved more than 14.5 billion liters of water. In order to have an idea how much this represents, it corresponds almost to the total capacity of Alto Cotia System, which has a maximum capacity of 16.5 billion liters of water.

Out of 77% that reduced consumption in December, 64% actually received the Bonus, while the remaining 13% reduced but did not reach the discount. Considering all clients that received the bonus last month, 53% reduced Consumption by more than 20% (Bonus range of 30%), 5% reduced between 15% and 20% (Bonus range of 20%) and 6% reduced between 10% and 15%, getting a bonus of 10%

Yet the share of customers with a consumption increase was 23%, of which 14% paid the surcharge. The remaining 9 percentage points are those who consumed less than 10 thousand liters a month.

The Bonus Program was implemented on February 1st, 2014 to the residents supplied by the Cantareira System. From February 1st, 2016, it will change, with an update of the calculus basis (it does not apply to the Contingency Tariff), which is a new Water Consumption Reference. Until now, this index corresponded to the consumption average between Feb/2013 and Jan/2014, which still remains for calculating the Contingency Tariff. The new average for getting the Bonus will be calculated by multiplying the last reference by 0.78. The Program's remaining conditions and rules will be maintained, including the Bonus ranges of 10%, 20% and 30%. It means, residents that reduce consumption by 20% or receive a discount of 30%, between 15% and 20% get a discount of 20%, and a reduction between 10% and 15% goes to a 10% discount on the bill.

Even with the rainy season, the company stresses the importance of the population commitment to the savings and the rational use of water, so that it can guarantee the Reservoir's gradual recovery after the drought of 2014, considered the worst for more than 80 years in the Southeast Region.