The sweltering heat in Rio de Janeiro has reached record-breaking levels, forcing thousands of residents in the city’s largest favela, Rocinha, to seek relief in public showers as their water supply dwindles.
On Monday, temperatures soared to 44°C (111°F) — the hottest day recorded since Rio implemented a climate alert system over a decade ago.
As the relentless heat wave intensifies, residents in vulnerable communities are struggling to cope with both extreme temperatures and a worsening water crisis.
This was reported by DR.
“We Are Just Surviving the Chaos”
For the 122,000 residents of Rocinha, the situation has become desperate. With unreliable water pressure and an already scarce supply, many have been left with no choice but to use public baths and showers — if they can find one that still has running water.
“We are facing a chronic and inhumane water crisis here in Rocinha,” said Marcondes Ximenes, vice-president of the Rocinha residents' association.
“People are making do with the public showers we have installed in certain parts of the community — areas that are lucky enough to still have water — to cook, bathe their children, and care for bedridden elderly people. In reality, we are just surviving the chaos.”
A Water Crisis Decades in the Making
The lack of water in Rocinha is not a new problem. The favela, located in southern Rio, has suffered from poor infrastructure and insufficient water pressure for years, particularly in high-altitude areas where water struggles to reach households.
According to Rio On Watch, an independent media outlet covering the city’s social issues, residents in Rocinha receive only 18 liters of water per person per day — far below the United Nations' recommended 50-100 liters per person for basic needs like drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
This crisis in Rocinha mirrors a nationwide water emergency that experts have warned about for years. In 2024, Brazil’s National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency issued a dire forecast, warning that the country could face a 40% decline in water availability by 2040.
The current heat wave is only making matters worse. Raquel Franco, chief meteorologist at the Rio Alert System, warned that Rio de Janeiro is on track to experience one of its driest Februarys in history.
And relief is nowhere in sight.
“There is no rain forecasted after Monday’s record heatwave,” Franco said. With temperatures expected to remain between 35°C and 40°C (95°F-104°F) for the coming days, authorities have issued continued warnings about the extreme weather.
A Struggle for Survival
For residents of Rocinha, the crisis is about more than just comfort—it’s about survival. Without a reliable water supply, people are struggling to meet even their most basic needs.
So, as another scorching day begins in Rio de Janeiro, many in Rocinha will once again gather at public showers in search of relief.
That is, if there is still water left to flow.
