At Current Pace, Brazil Will Take 129 Years to Reach Federal Sanitation Targets

04/28/2015 - 09h16

At its current pace, Brazil will take 129 years to reach federal targets on universal sanitation. This is the conclusion of the TrataBrasil Institute's Basic Sanitation Ranking, which assessed sanitation in the country's hundred largest cities.

39% of the nation's sewage is currently treated, 0.3% up on last year. This falls well short of the targets imposed by the National Basic Sanitation Plan, which aims for universal sanitation by 2033.

The sluggish progress on this issue affects the economy and education, as well as jeopardising the health of millions of Brazilians.

Sewage collection also increased by just 0.3%, being now available to 48.6% of the population. The percentage of the population with treated water fell by 0.2%, to 82.5%.

For the second year running, Franca (in São Paulo state) is in first place in the ranking, with 100% of the population having access to treated water and sewage collection. The city also treats 78% of its sewage. Franca is followed by Maraingá (Paraná) and Limeira (São Paulo).

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Zanone Fraissat/Folhapress
	39% of the nation's sewage is currently treated, 0.3% up on last year