Brazil's Water Crisis - Water In Brazil 2021

Brazil's water and sanitation crisis

Despite having one of the largest economies in the world, there are still deep inequalities in access to water and sanitation among Brazil’s geographical regions, rural and urban communities and households. Currently there are more than 1.2 million people without access to safe water and 20 million without access to improved sanitation. For those who do have access to safe water, the water supply downtime, disruption in service and deficiencies in drinking water systems remain challenging.

Lack of access to improved water and sanitation disrupts the socioeconomic development of the country and has significant implications on health. Brazil ranks higher than average, globally, on infant death mortality and hospitalizations of adults and children. These rankings are linked, at least in part, to a severe lack of access to improved water and sanitation services.

Now more than ever access to safe water is critical to the health of families in Brazil so they can prepare and protect themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases.

1.2 million Lack access to safe water

Brazil

Capital: Brasília

Population of 212 million

20 million people lack access to improved sanitation

Our impact in Brazil

Brazil’s advanced financial landscape positively indicates that smart, market-based solutions have the potential to accelerate water and sanitation access across the country. Currently, there are large disparities in access to financing for those living in poverty, and banking policies and perceptions remain stacked against the poor. Water.org can change this.

With high demand for water and sanitation services and strong potential for microfinance markets, Brazil is a great fit for our WaterCredit solution.

In 2017, we certified our first microfinance institution partner and began piloting WaterCredit.  Since then, Water.org has brought on additional financial partners and expanded our work in the region, reaching more than 156,000 people with access to safe water or sanitation at the household level.

As a new geography, we are focused on creating a solid foundation in Brazil and building on lessons learned from pilot programs in select Brazilian states to scale the most promising approaches nationwide. We will work with a variety of partners – including microfinance institutions, commercial and government banks, and product manufacturers – to develop water and sanitation lending programs and supplies that are accessible and affordable to people in need.

194 K 194,000 people reached

$34 M $34 million in loans disbursed by our partners

9 partners

Stories of Impact
Access to sanitation brings comfort and safety

Andrea lives in Brazil. She provides for her family’s necessities like food and shelter, but beyond those things, she has not been in a financial position to save enough money to improve her family’s sanitation situation. Read how a small, affordable loan changed this.
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Stories of Impact
How the water crisis affects families in Brazil

Like 25 million Brazilians, Maria lacked access to adequate sanitation in her home, where she lives and works and helps raise her granddaughter. Read about how a small loan gave this mother and grandmother the resource needed to keep her family healthy.
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Stories of Impact
Glaucia's sanitation crisis solved

For Glaucia, paying a small amount each month to pay off a loan for a bathroom at home was both affordable and practical. She no longer had to worry about her family’s health and the medical expenses that came with poor hygiene issues. Glaucia gave her family a bathroom much sooner than she’d ever thought imaginable.
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