Brazilian Chamber of Deputies bans minimum water and sewage tariffs

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved Bill 1845/25, authored by Deputy Carlos Jordy (PL‑RJ) and reported by Deputy Kim Katagiri (Missão‑SP). The legislation amends the Basic Sanitation Law to prohibit the practice of charging a minimum consumption fee – a “franchise” – for water supply and sewage services. Instead, it requires a fixed basic tariff that covers the cost of maintaining the infrastructure, combined with a variable charge based on actual water use. The bill cites the National Water and Sanitation Agency’s Reference Norm 13/25 for calculating the fixed component and will be sent to the Senate for further consideration. Proponents argue that the minimum‑tariff model penalises low‑consumption households, encourages wasteful use, and lacks social fairness, while the new structure aims to promote rational water consumption, transparency, and economic sustainability for service providers. Existing contracts must be adjusted within four years after the law takes effect, following a transition plan approved by the regulator.