São Paulo state sanitation and energy secretary Dilma Pena has signed 18 million reais (US$ 7.7 million = € 6.11 million) worth of Água Limpa or clean water program agreements with 10 towns, according to a state government report. The Água Limpa program is geared towards towns and cities in São Paulo state with less than 50,000 people, which are not served by state water utility Sabesp. The agreements for the 10 towns include removal and treatment of sewage that will benefit approximately 140,000 people.

“Our goal is that every town in the state, no matter the size, has 100% sanitation service, which means everyone should have drinking water, and collection and treatment of sewage,” Pena was quoted as saying.

Água Limpa was established by the state government in 2005 together with the departments of sanitation and energy, and health. So far, 99 towns and cities have been included in the program, 53 with completed projects and 44 with works in progress, the report said. Overall, 78.5 million reais (US$ 34.6 million = € 26.2 million) have been spent, benefiting 1.2 million people.

Related news: Brazil: Ipea study finds resources insufficient to solve basic sanitation needs, Source Weekly, 19 Feb 2009

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 18 Feb 2009

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