Basic Sanitation in Brazil: Lessons from the Past, Opportunities from the Present, Challenges for the Future

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in Brazil, and focuses on the broader concept of “basic sanitation” used in Brazil. The analysis departs from the assumption that there is a need to combine appropriate technological approaches with a public-policy perspective that recognises the relevance of the political dimension. I adopt the concept of “systemic conditions” as an analytical tool to integrate the structural factors and processes that influence and even determine the development of WSS services. A brief description of the sector's historical evolution is included, where I identify key obstacles and opportunities facing the sector. The article examines the current state of access to the services, including the political, institutional and legal aspects, and highlights some of the challenges ahead. It shows that, although the Brazilian WSS sector has achieved important advances, there are significant deficits in several areas that need to be addressed. Closing t...