Did you know that a country can only be called a developed country if its basic sanitation is efficient? Treated water, wastewater collection and treatment services lead to improved quality of life of people, thus reducing child mortality, improving education and the clean-up of rivers.

Unfortunately, Brazil occupies the 117th position in international rankings of countries with developed basic sanitation. According to the Ministry of Health, in 20 years (from 2016 to 2036), considering the gradual progress of sanitation, the current value of the economy with health, whether due to sick leaves or hospital expenses in the SUS, should reach R$ 5.9 billion in the country.

Right now, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to resolve essential issues – such as the expansion of water and wastewater treatment – to save millions of lives and eliminate gaps that leave us so vulnerable to global catastrophes such as the new coronavirus.

On June 24, the new basic sanitation regulatory framework was approved by the Senate and sanctioned by President Jair Bolsonaro. The deadline for enforcement is forecasted for 2040 by government agencies. To enforce the new basic sanitation framework, first it is necessary to settle the legislation, and it will be up to the National Water Agency (ANA) to do this work.

Currently, Brazil has 100 million people deprived of wastewater treatment. Other 30 million people do not have access to treated water. The projection is that more than R$ 700 billion will be invested in basic sanitation in Brazil in the coming years.

The resources will bring many benefits to the country and its population, such as more jobs and income generation, strengthening of the domestic industry of equipment, generation of new technologies and the development of specialized labor, preservation of the environment and, of course, ensuring the right of access to drinking and treated water to the entire population.