Trends in access to basic sanitation services across Brazilian municipalities under a new legal framework

Abstract

Federal Law No. 14,026/2020 updated Brazil's sanitation legal framework, reinforcing universalization targets for water supply and sewage services. It mandates that by the end of 2033, sanitation contracts must ensure 99% of the population has access to potable water and 90% to sewage collection and treatment. Given Brazil's vast territory and regional disparities, achieving these targets across all municipalities poses a significant challenge. This article examines whether water and sewage coverage rates converged between 2010 and 2022, analyzing municipalities segregated by state and region. The study provides an up-to-date assessment of these indicators and identifies challenges in meeting the established targets. Empirical estimation of convergence draws on economic methodologies for growth and income convergence, incorporating beta-convergence and sigma-convergence hypotheses. This robust methodological approach enables a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of sanitation services in Brazil, offering insights to guide effective public policies. • Brazil's sanitation coverage shows national β-convergence but regional disparities. • Sewage service inequality remains higher than water supply. • Quantile regression confirms uneven progress favoring developed regions. • σ-convergence is mixed: national dispersion falls, but rises within specific quantiles and groups. • Suggests differentiated universalization deadlines by municipal clusters.