Brazil Requires $42bn Water Investments by 2015

Brazil requires R$70bn ($42bn) by 2015 to ensure water supplies to its major cities and to treat its waste, according to national water agency ANA.

Although Brazil has one of the world’s largest fresh water reserves, more than half of its cities face water shortages by 2015 due to inadequate water and sewage treatment facilities, the agency revealed.

The country needs an investment of R$47.8bn ($28.8bn) in its sewage systems to ensure future usability of its water sources, and R$22bn ($13.2bn) to make improvements to its water distribution systems, reports The Wall Street Journal.

South-eastern cities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro require new water sources and distribution system improvements, which are estimated to cost R$1.7bn ($1bn).