Case Study: Water Supply Success in Porto Alegre, Brazil

• City Profile: Porto Alegre, a city in Brazil, stands out with a lower number of infant deaths compared to many global cities despite its poverty.
• Universal Access to Safe Water:
  • Key Achievement: Porto Alegre’s water department has achieved universal access to safe water.
  • Impact on Infant Mortality: This accomplishment significantly contributes to lower infant mortality rates in the city.
• Affordable Water for All:
  • Low Average Price: The average price of water in the city is kept low.
  • Reduced Rates for the Poor: The water department charges the poor half the basic rate, ensuring affordability for all citizens.
• Profit Reinvestment:
  • Utilization of Profits: The department uses its profits to enhance and expand the water supply infrastructure.
  • Benefit to Citizens: Reinvested profits lead to improved water services and quality for the residents.
• Transparency and Participation:
  • Transparent Operations: The water department’s operations are characterized by transparency.
  • Direct Citizen Involvement: Citizens have the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making.
  • Public Meetings: Through public meetings, citizens engage with managers, understand projects, and cast votes on priorities.

Extending Sanitation Facilities

Mahatma Gandhi recounting untouchables’ grievances, Rajkot Sanitation Committee, 1896.

Sanitation is crucial in preventing water-borne diseases and maintaining public health.

• Sanitation Challenge in India:
• Lower Coverage than Water: Sanitation coverage in India is even lower than that of safe drinking water.
• Access to Sanitation in India:
  • 2011 Figures: Official data from 2011 indicates that 53% of Indian households have access to sanitation facilities.
  • Urban-Rural Disparities: Both rural and urban areas face lack of access to sanitation, disproportionately affecting the poor.
• Role of Sulabh NGO:
  • Background: Sulabh, a non-government organization, has worked for nearly five decades to address sanitation challenges faced by low-caste and low-income individuals in India.
  • Contribution: Sulabh has constructed over 8,500 community toilet blocks and 1.5 million household toilets, benefiting around 20 million people.
  • Focus on the Poor: The majority of Sulabh’s beneficiaries are from the economically disadvantaged working class.
• Collaboration with Local Authorities:
  • Partnerships with Local Authorities: Sulabh partners with municipalities and local authorities to construct toilet blocks using government funds.
  • Funding and Land Contribution: Local authorities provide funding and land for these projects, while maintenance costs may be covered by user charges (e.g., city latrine usage charge of ₹2).
• Positive Impact on Public Health:
  • Improved Sanitation: Sulabh’s efforts contribute to improved sanitation infrastructure, reducing health risks and enhancing the quality of life for marginalized communities.