Asymmetries in water and sanitation services and how they are shaping urban drainage and stormwater management in Brazil

Achieving universal access to water and sanitation services (WSS) is one of the most significant public challenges in Brazil. The WSS are encompassed within the concept of ‘basic sanitation,’ which includes a comprehensive approach to policy interventions aimed at protecting public health and the environment. This broader definition incorporates potable water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, solid waste management, and urban drainage and stormwater management (UDSM). However, these services have evolved disproportionately, with a focus on water supply and wastewater treatment. As a result, despite the critical importance of UDSM in urban areas, many Brazilian cities lack these services, leaving both populations and the environment vulnerable to adverse impacts. Although the reasons for this imbalance among services might be justified according to the priority of indispensable services, the UDSM has also proved essential to a broader concept of urban security, health, and sustainability. This article explores the asymmetries between UDSM and other WSS within Brazil's new regulatory framework, following the enactment of Law No. 14,026/2020. The findings reveal that, in the absence of institutional drivers rooted in the historical asymmetries observed during the consolidation of the National Water and Sanitation Policy (NWSP), UDSM services remain marginalized and face inertia in public policy. If this trend persists, UDSM services are unlikely to follow the same trajectory of improvement seen in other WSS, ultimately undermining the goal of achieving universal access to basic sanitation. • Basic sanitation in Brazil extends beyond water and wastewater. • Selective sanitation policy often results in sanitation asymmetries. • Urban drainage services are essential for urban safety but are generally marginalized. • Brazil's Water and Sanitation Policy has made minimal progress in urban drainage.