Water and Sewerage Services in
Low-income Urban Areas in Brazil
PAT-PROSANEAR –
Based on studies undertaken by
the Ministry of the Cities’
PAT-PROSANEAR Program,
financed by the World Bank
Alceu Bittencourt
Washington – 27/02/07
Water and Sewerage Services in
Low-income Urban Areas in Brazil
• Total population of Brasil – 183 million
• Urban population - 82% of the total
• 8.8 % of Metropolitan Region dwellings
are in favelas (slums)
Water and Sewerage Services in
Low-income Urban Areas in Brazil
• 92% of the urban population has access to
water supply
• 54 % of the urban population has access to
sewage collection
• water and sewerage services deficit
concentrated in the low-income population
• 40% of collected sewage is treated
Situation of Water and Sewerage Services
in Brazil
Service Provider
%
Population
% Public % Private Total
Regional
76
99
1
100
Municipal / Microregional
24
76
24
100
Total
100
93
7
100
Cantagalo Favela – Rio de Janeiro
Jardim Brasília Favela – São Paulo
Drainage channel bank occupied by favela
Jardim Souza Favela
Before Intervention
After Intervention
Jordanópolis Favela
Before Intervention
After Intervention
Jardim Esmeralda Favela
After Intervention
Before Intervention
Jardim Iporanga Favela
Before Intervention
After Intervention
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Urbanization Costs
US$ per family
12000
10000
Services
8000
Land
6000
Environment
4000
Housing
2000
Infrastructure
0
Water Supply in Low-income Urban
Areas in Brazil
• wide coverage
• poor quality services
• service providers have social policy of
attending the deprived population (social
tariff)
• reach is restricted due to negative impacts
on revenues of service providers - (highly
restrictive criteria)
Water Supply in Low-income Urban
Areas in Brazil
• high rate of non-payment - including those
benefiting from the social tariff
• no cutting off of services - legislation does
not permit and/or high criminality
• high rate of theft – as high as 30% of water
production in the case of some providers
• precarious domestic installations
Consequences of Non-payment
Social/Commercial Approach Solutions
• relations with the community:
- with micrometering
- without micrometering
• single registry of beneficiaries – Social
Programs (eg: conditional cash transfers)
•customized attendance
Sewage Collection in Low-income
Urban Areas in Brazil
• low coverage
• low recognition of service importance
• high connection cost
• substantial tariff cost
(lack of willingness to connect)
Sewerage Services in Low-income
Urban Areas in Brazil
• occupation of drainage channel banks
• reduced operational efficiency in deprived
areas → water pollution
• social tariff vs. service viability
• treatment vs. service viability
Sewerage - Alternative Implantation
Technologies
• urbanization of favelas
• condominial systems
investment costs vs. maintenance costs
• complete connections, including residential
installations
Conclusions
• intensification of social/ commercial
approach
• broaden relations with the community –
residents’ associations
• social tariff with clear criteria
• sanitary and environmental education
Conclusions
• combat fraud and non-payment
• provide the low-income population with
good services and expand sewage
treatment – sources of funding?
Water and Sewerage Services in
Low-income Urban Areas in Brazil
PAT-PROSANEAR –
Based on studies undertaken by
the Ministry of the Cities’
PAT-PROSANEAR Program,
financed by the World Bank
Alceu Bittencourt
Washington – 27/02/07