File photo: Children play with water in a town in Rio de Janeiro
A survey conducted by a leading Brazilian newspaper says more than 100 cities are rationing water amid the worst drought to hit the country in decades.
The Folha de S Paulo newspaper wrote on Saturday that water is being rationed to close to six million people living in 142 cities in 11 states.
The newspaper quoted water supply companies saying reservoirs, rivers and streams are the driest they've been in 20 years.
Some neighborhoods in the city of Itu in Sao Paulo state only receive water for 13 hours, once every three days.
Water consumption normally grows by up to 20 percent during the Southern Hemisphere's summer. But this year, consumption has risen to 30 percent due to a prolonged heat wave affecting several states.