Brazil expands water and sanitation services with new tariffs, debt deals and infrastructure upgrades

Brazil's water sector is seeing a series of policy and infrastructure moves. In Rio Grande do Sul, the state regulator approved a social water and sewage tariff that will give a 50% discount to initially 50,600 low‑income families, with the number potentially rising to 135,000, effective 1 August.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the municipality of Maricá launched a program to install free septic tanks, filters and biodigesters in homes, aiming to broaden basic sanitation coverage and improve public health and environmental protection.

Taboão da Serra's city council approved a law allowing the municipal government to negotiate a payment plan with the state water utility Sabesp, using part of its ICMS revenue as guarantee to regularise outstanding water and sewage bills.

Porto Alegre is progressing with a partial concession of its water and sewage department (Dmae). Technical and financial studies led by BNDES are scheduled to finish by 2026, after which a public tender is expected in the first half of 2027. The concession includes guarantees for social tariffs and targets for universal sanitation.

Separately, the city is investing R$ 18 million to connect its storm‑water pump stations to an exclusive, redundant electricity network. The upgrade, managed by CEEE Equatorial, will provide automatic backup power, remote-controlled switches and improved resilience against extreme weather events.