January 30, 2025

Towards universalization: The impact of the Sanitation Legal Framework

Basic sanitation in Brazil is heading towards a revolution in 2025, driven by Legal Framework for Sanitation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. This new scenario promises changes in access to drinking water and sewage treatment, with technological solutions that improve efficiency and reduce costs. 

What is the Legal Framework for Sanitation?

Sanctioned in 2020, the Legal Framework for Sanitation established goals to achieve universal sanitation. The law provides that 99% of the population will have access to drinking water and 90% to sewage treatment and collection by 2033. 

Therefore, now in 2025 we can already see that these guidelines show significant results, with investments that already exceed billions of reais, fostering public-private partnerships (PPPs) and attracting cutting-edge technology to the sector.

Among the central points of the law, the following stand out:

  • Privatization and competition: The new legislation opened space for the entry of private initiative into the sector, promoting competition and stimulating investment.
  • Universalization goals: Sets clear deadlines and objectives to expand access to services.
  • Strengthened regulation: Expands the role of the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) in harmonizing rules and monitoring operations.
  • Regionalization of services: Encourages the formation of regional blocks to optimize the provision of services in smaller municipalities.

The Brazilian reality

Currently, 32 million Brazilians still do not have access to drinking water, 90 million live without sewage collection and treatment, and 4.4 million do not have a bathroom in their homes. These numbers are alarming and represent one of the biggest infrastructure and public health challenges in Brazil.

Studies show that universal sanitation could generate R$1.4 trillion in socioeconomic benefits for the Brazilian population. These gains translate into improvements in health, productivity, education and tourism, in addition to reducing the costs of hospitalizations and diseases related to the lack of sanitation.

The numbers of investment in Sanitation

To achieve universal access to basic sanitation in Brazil, large-scale investments are needed. Since 2018, the Trata Brazil Institute estimated that around R$1.4 billion should be invested in this sector

These resources will return in economic progress, quality of life and cost reduction in various areas of public service.

The current scenario is promising, but still insufficient. Only in the project portfolio of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), there are R$160 billion in planned investments, of which R$61 billion has already been contracted, benefiting approximately 62 million Brazilians. 

Additionally, there are 42 new projects under development, with investments planned in the order of R$114 billion, which will be able to serve another 40 million Brazilians.


Basic sanitation is an essential infrastructure; it represents health, dignity and development. To achieve universal access, it is necessary to maintain high investment and ensure that public policies are designed with a focus on equity and efficiency. 

This is a crucial moment for Brazil, when advances in sanitation can improve people's quality of life. What's more, they can boost technological, economic and environmental development. 

With determination and planning, the milestone can become an example of positive and sustainable transformation for the country.

en_US

Welcome

Are you already a Stattus4 customer? Select one of our systems.

Don't have access yet? Talk to our experts.