The Minas Gerais Court of Justice has ordered the Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais (Copasa) to end its water supply and basic sanitation services in the municipality of Alpinópolis. This decision comes after a longstanding legal dispute regarding Copasa's contract, which had originally been set to last until 2046 but was annulled in 2020. The local government is working to ensure that the transition away from Copasa's operations is done gradually to prevent any disruption to essential services.

In response to the court's ruling, a formal notice was sent to Copasa instructing them to comply with the interim decision. To facilitate the transition, the municipal government has signed a decree that now designates the town as responsible for water supply and sewage treatment responsibilities, highlighting the local government's commitment to managing these essential services without interruption to residents.

The newly established operator for these services will be the SAALPI Consortium, which will take over the functions previously performed by Copasa. This shift emphasizes the municipality's effort to resolve any ongoing issues with service delivery and community satisfaction, while also reflecting broader trends in local governance where municipalities take a more active role in providing basic services to their citizens.