Brazil's Congress proposes constitutional amendment to make water a fundamental right and ban privatization

Deputy Alencar Santana (PT‑SP) introduced a constitutional amendment that would add potable water to the list of social rights in article 6 of Brazil’s Constitution, alongside education, health, housing and other guarantees. The proposal also creates a new article 175‑A, defining water supply for human consumption as an essential, indelegable service that must be provided directly by the State or a publicly‑controlled entity.

The amendment explicitly prohibits any form of privatization, concession, permission, public‑private partnership, or transfer of control over water infrastructure. Existing private contracts would be allowed a transition period of up to five years before being replaced by direct public provision. It also mandates that a minimum volume of water be supplied to households unable to pay, aiming to protect vulnerable families from service cuts.