itaipu ·
ONS cuts water use at Itaipu and Southern hydro plants
Marco Três newsroom · edited by Annie Grellmann
Measure prepares system for El Niño impacts in the second half of the year
The National Electric System Operator (ONS) has imposed water consumption limits on the Itaipu reservoir and hydroelectric plants in the South to mitigate El Niño effects during the second half of 2026. The strategy aims to preserve water availability in critical basins of the North and Northeast, which will face reduced rainfall during the phenomenon.
ONS activated the water‑saving measures after observing an improvement in the hydro‑meteorological conditions of the South and Southeast in June, driven by cold fronts and high precipitation.
During El Niño, the South tends to record higher rainfall, while the North and Northeast experience a drop in precipitation. This impacts the supply to strategic basins such as Santo Antônio, Jirau and Belo Monte. Saving water in reservoirs like Itaipu and the Southern hydro plants ensures resources to meet demand during the critical period.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon that raises sea‑surface temperatures in the equatorial and eastern Pacific Ocean, altering winds, rainfall and atmospheric pressure worldwide. It occurs every two to seven years and lasts about a year. A report from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published on June 11 indicates a higher likelihood of the phenomenon in late 2026.
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