Resource information
This study examines how environmental
issues have been addressed in the water sector in Brazil,
within the context of activities of the Federal Government,
generally, and those implemented under Bank sector
operations, in particular. The core focus of the study lies
in the management of water quality, as it affects both the
users of raw water, and those who are primarily concerned
with the disposal of wastewater. The report considers the
following three sectoral areas concomitantly - water
resources management, water supply and sanitation, and, the
environment - thus limiting its review, and focus to those
themes which are key to the over-arching issue of water
quality. Water resources management in the country relied
upon heavy investments in medium, and large scale projects
that provided basic infrastructure for water uses. However,
these have produced questionable impacts in terms of
reducing poverty, and inequality. One of the reasons for
this, has been the poor infrastructure management, which
despite its importance, has been largely underestimated.
While improvements in the utilization of existing
infrastructure in the water sector remain critical, it needs
to be complemented by incentives to both service providers,
and water users. Moreover, low economic, environmental, and
social returns from investments in the water sector, reflect
the tendency to distract attention from the objectives in
the design, and implementation of projects. Thus, an
assessment of water quality goals is required, which should
be based on systematic evaluations of the costs, and
benefits of reaching alternative standards, and explicit
social objectives.
