Sistema Cantareira, Water supply system in São Paulo, Brazil
Sistema Cantareira is a water supply system made of five connected reservoirs in the northern part of the São Paulo metropolitan area. The infrastructure stores drinking water in large artificial lakes that spread across forested hills and valleys.
Construction started in 1966 with the first dam on the Juqueri River, followed by additional reservoirs in the years after. The system was developed to meet the growing water needs of the rapidly expanding city.
The water management system shapes daily life in São Paulo by providing water to 9 million residents through an intricate network of distribution.
The reservoirs sit in several municipalities north of São Paulo, including Bragança Paulista and Piracaia. Visitors can reach some areas along the waterfront roads, while other sections remain restricted for safety and protection reasons.
Water flows through underground tunnels between two river basins, connecting the Piracicaba watershed with the Alto Tietê drainage area. This transfer allows water to move from less populated regions into the densely populated metropolis.
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