Residents once again complain about bad smells and tastes in the water in Paulínia and Hortolândia The quality of water in Hortolândia (SP), Paulínia (SP) and Monte Mor (SP), cities served by the Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo (Sabesp), has once again been the target of complaints from residents in the last two weeks. The complaints had already been registered in April 2026. People interviewed by EPTV, a TV Globo affiliate station, reported that the water had a bad taste and odor, comparable to the smell of mold or wet cloth. This has prevented consumption. "When we drink the water, we feel a taste and a smell, how can I say, of something moldy, something heavy. We had this problem in April and now two weeks ago we have that taste and smell in the water again", said Rodrigo Laneri, a resident of Jardim Jatobá, in Hortolândia. According to Rodrigo, other residents have also questioned the quality of the distribution and even presented health problems when coming into contact with the water. ? Join the g1 Campinas channel on WhatsApp "We participate in some groups where people complain about diarrhea, skin irritation when taking a shower. So, yes, they are experiencing discomfort," he said. In a statement, Sabesp said that it intensified water quality monitoring and, preventively, reinforced the application of activated carbon in the water treatment process distributed in Paulínia and Hortolândia — read the statement below. The Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb) reported that it monitors the quality of the rivers that supply the stations in the region, including using a probe to collect raw water from the Jaguari River. "To date, no changes have been identified in the main quality parameters or substances associated with taste and odor in water. Cetesb continues to monitor the case", he added. Concern and inconvenience Residents of the Campinas region once again complain about the bad smell and taste of the water distributed Reproduction/EPTV The resident of Hortolândia also stated that he is worried about his family's health and is thinking about moving from the place where he has lived for just seven months. "My wife is pregnant and we don't know how harmful this smell is to people's lives, whether to a newborn or an adult. Sabesp has never presented a study on what could happen to our health if we breathe this smell for 24 hours. We need an answer." Rodrigo Fabiano da Silva lives with his parents in the Dona Edith de Campos Fávero neighborhood, in Paulínia, and said that the problem was resolved for a short period of time. However, in recent days the quality of the water has once again been questioned. "When I go to take a shower, we turn on the shower, get in from below and that smell starts to come out. It started in May, I think, and it didn't smell for about 15 days and it came back again. It's really bothersome." He said that, although he has a water filter at home, he has had to buy bottled water for daily consumption. "It's a lot of work. Leaving the house to get a gallon of water, when we have a filter at home to fill, is a lot of work." Residents of the Campinas region once again complain about the bad smell and taste of the water distributed Reproduction/EPTV Problem has already happened before The bad smell and taste of the water had already been noticed by residents in April this year. At the time, Sabesp found that the problem was in the Jaguari River, one of the main sources used to supply the region, which contained substances that harmed water quality. At the time, the company reported that the situation had been resolved and that it would continue to monitor the river. What Sabesp says Sabesp informs that it intensified, throughout the week, monitoring the quality of water distributed in Hortolândia and Paulínia, following specific manifestations related to changes in taste and odor. Company teams are carrying out collections and analyzes at different points in the system and directly serving customers who have registered incidents. The results available so far confirm that the water remains within the potability standards established by legislation. As a preventive measure, Sabesp reinforced the application of activated charcoal in the treatment process and contacted public authorities to monitor the situation. The Company maintains continuous monitoring and will continue to adopt the necessary operational measures to ensure the quality and security of supply. Sabesp remains available to customers through service channels. Incidents and requests can be registered at the Customer Service Center by calling 0800 055 0195, with a free call and open 24 hours a day, via WhatsApp (11) 3388-8000 or through the Virtual Agency, on the website www.sabesp.com.br.