Brazil lags behind China, Mexico and Chile in global ranking of access to water and sewage

Brazil is in an intermediate position in a world ranking of treated water and sewage supply. According to data from Unicef ​​and the WHO (World Health Organization), the supply of drinking water reaches 86% of the population, 85th in a ranking of 137 locations. Treated sewage reaches 49% of Brazilians, placing Brazil in 76th position among 129 listed regions.

According to the federal government’s criteria, 84% is the average water supply for the total Brazilian population (93% in the urban portion), and 51% of the amount of sewage generated in the country is treated.

In this second aspect, Brazil is behind countries like Chile, Mexico, Russia and China.

According to a study by the CNI (National Confederation of Industry), the international experience shows that there is no single model for success and there is a wide variety of institutional frameworks that reflect specific situations.

It is possible, however, to identify some common elements, such as the growing participation of the private sector, coordination between agencies of different governmental spheres and emphasis on planning.

Private participation is a feature common to the best experiences, as in Germany, USA and Chile. In the South American country, for example, it reaches 94% of the sector.

“There is a significant difference in the quality of water and sewage services provided by private companies and by public companies, and municipalities with private providers have, on average, scores 10% higher. This means that privatization had a positive impact on the improvement of the sanitation service provided to the municipalities”, says the CNI work on the international experience.

In Chile, for example, with the new regulatory framework of the 1990s, companies in the sector were opened to the participation of capital and management experience from the private sector.

Until then, provision was the responsibility of a national service that managed regional companies or autonomous companies. Government subsidies became direct, transferred to companies to reduce tariffs for the low-income population.

Examples from some countries

Germany

Private companies represent more than 40% of the country’s sanitation companies, distributing more than 60% of the total volume of water

Canada

Considered the second most developed country in terms of the use of water resources. Most systems are operated by municipalities

States United

Public water systems can be either public or private entities, with the latter accounting for approximately 15% (35 million Americans) of the supply

Japan

Experience characterized by recurrent shortage of raw materials and the occurrence of natural disasters. The division of responsibilities requires coordination between national, state and local authorities. The national government plans, provides low-cost loans and helps subsidize end-user tariffs

Mexico

Experience characterized by the centralization of planning and the existence of few independent agencies. Approximately 78% of the water produced is reused. Lack of oversight is a challenge

UK

High private sector participation and strong independent regulation. Clear separation between service provision and regulation, the latter exercised over practiced tariffs, service standards and water quality

Chile

Private companies are responsible for serving 94% of the country’s urban population, with universal water coverage and sewage levels, sewage treatment close to 100% and excellent quality standards in service delivery. Independent regulation of production, tariff adjustment based on efficiency indicators, rationalization of state subsidies

Source: International comparisons: an agenda for solutions to the challenges of Brazilian sanitation/CNI.