Brazil faces sanitation challenges to meet 2033 legal targets

Brazil is working toward the goals established by the Legal Framework for Sanitation (Law 14.026/2020), which mandates that by 2033, 90% of the population must have sewage collection and treatment, and 99% must have access to potable water. Current data from the 2026 Sanitation Ranking shows that sewage collection reaches only 56.7% of Brazilians, while treatment covers 51.8% of generated sewage, leaving approximately 90 million people without services.

In Fortaleza, 286 condominiums have access to the public sewage infrastructure but remain disconnected. While 70% of the city is covered by the network, several neighborhoods contain over 100 developments that have not yet interlinked with the public system operated by Ambiental Ceará through a partnership with Cagece.

Experts note that connecting large residential units to the public grid is mandatory where infrastructure is available. Such connections reduce operational costs and maintenance responsibilities for condominium managers, improve environmental protection, and enhance public health by ensuring proper waste treatment.