Amazon's Four Rivers Face "Water Volume Crisis" — ANA Issues Unprecedented Declaration. Locals Say "This Year's Water Reduction Is Not Normal"

1. What Happened (Organized Chronologically)

The Brazilian National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) declared a "critical situation" regarding the quantitative water resources of the rivers Juruá, Purus, Acre, and Iaco in the Amazon region. The ANA board approved this on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and it was published in the official gazette on Monday, August 25. The declaration is valid until October 31, with the possibility of extension or early termination depending on the situation. The aim of the declaration is to understand the impact of low water levels on water usage and to coordinate mitigation measures. Regulatory authorities and water service providers can set special fees to cover additional costs and issue demand reduction signals. Additionally, the federal government is expected to expedite the recognition of the emergency situation.InfoMoney

ANA also announced on its official account on X (formerly Twitter), **"Crisis declaration in Juruá, Purus, Acre, and Iaco. Effective until 10/31"**, raising awareness.X (formerly Twitter)

2. "Dry Season" Yet a "Downturn": Prolonged Low Rainfall in the Background

All four rivers originate in Peru and flow through the Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas. Since 2023, precipitation in the basin has consistently been below average, and forecasts by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Amazon Disaster Monitoring (CENSIPAM) predict below-average rainfall until October. Currently, the area is experiencing the opposite of the rainy season, known as the **"bazanji (dry season)"**, where water levels drop, but this year, the extent of the drop is unusually large, according to authorities.InfoMoney

Public media also featured "Amazon Rivers Facing Water Shortages." Concerns about progressive drying and low humidity are also mounting.TV BrasilInfoMoney

ANA's monitoring also reported that as of May 2025, 31.5% of the Amazon region remained dry.Serviços e Informações do Brasil

3. Voices from the Field: "Concern for Daily Life" Seen on Social Media

The news of the declaration prompted reactions from local media and citizen accounts. **Regional newspapers and local accounts quickly reported, "Declaration valid until 10/31. Impact on Acre and Amazonas,"** expressing concerns about rising costs of river transport and daily necessities.X (formerly Twitter)

Additionally, several posts shared experiences such as **"increased stranding of small boats due to exposed riverbeds" and "rising water intake costs for coastal communities,"** with calls for flexible water and sewage charges (special fees) and faster public support.X (formerly Twitter)

Trends in Reactions
・Logistics: Delays in river transport of fuel and food, with concerns about rising freight costs.
・Daily Life: Increase in water intake and filtration costs, complaints about low water pressure.
・Administration: Calls for the swift issuance of emergency declarations and federal support.
・Misunderstandings: Some point out "it's just the usual dry season" → Refuted by authority data showing a significant downturn compared to the average this year.

4. What Changes?—Measures Enabled by the Declaration

• Demand Management: Municipalities and operators to strengthen water-saving requests and distribution adjustments.

• Flexible Pricing: Temporary special fees to recover additional costs (e.g., long-distance water intake, emergency transport).

• Federal Funding Facilitation: Streamlined procedures for emergency recognition make it easier to allocate public funds for securing drinking water, emergency logistics, and sanitation measures.InfoMoney

5. Continuity with Last Year and the Year Before

In the Amazon, since the historic drought of 2023, repeated reports of localized water shortages and rekindled wildfire risks have emerged. The current declaration is in line with past "spikes," such as the crisis declaration for tributaries (e.g., Xingu River) in 2024.InfoAmazoniaInfoMoney

6. Impact on Investment and Economy

• Supply Chain: Delays in river transport directly lead to increased costs for fuel, food, and medicine.

• Local Business: Tourism and fishing are vulnerable to the double blow of low water levels and fishing bans.

• Public Utility Rates: Special fees based on the declaration may temporarily increase costs for households and businesses.InfoMoney

7. "What You Can Do Starting Tomorrow" Checklist for Locals

1. Securing Drinking Water: Anticipate intermittent supply in the short term, and ensure water storage and water conservation at homes and businesses.

2. Advance Travel Plans: With the emergence of shallow sections, boat schedules are likely to be disrupted. Consider land route alternatives.

3. Hygiene Management: During low water levels, water quality fluctuations at intake points are significant. Strictly adhere to water purification and boiling basics.

4. Centralize Information: Refer to state and municipal disaster announcements and ANA official updates as primary information sources.X (formerly Twitter)

8. Future Outlook

• The declaration is valid until October 31. After that, extensions may be considered based on technical evaluations.InfoMoney

• While seasonal factors suggest a recovery in water levels after November, INPE/CENSIPAM indicates below-average rainfall until October. The short term remains challenging.InfoMoney

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