With just seven years left until the deadline for sanitation universalization, Brazil finds itself in stark contrast with some cities successfully meeting the target of providing comprehensive water supply and sewage treatment, while others are failing to even make progress. This situation reflects marked regional inequalities, inadequate planning, and insufficient investment in the sector. The latest sanitation ranking released by the Instituto Trata Brasil and GO Associados sheds light on this issue, spotlighting the struggles of many municipalities as they grapple with the disparities in service availability and quality.

The ranking evaluates the water and sewage management of the hundred largest Brazilian cities using data from 2024, as published by the Ministry of Cities. Notably, the city of Franca, located in São Paulo state, tops the list, showcasing a model of success in achieving sanitation goals. In stark contrast, municipalities that lag behind are not only falling short of meeting the set targets but are also witnessing a deterioration in their sanitation indicators. This highlights a worrying trend that contradicts the overall aim of advancing toward universal sanitation for all citizens.

As Brazil approaches the universalization deadline, the dichotomy between cities that have successfully implemented sanitation strategies and those that have not poses significant implications for public health and social equity. The persistence of these inequalities may hinder national efforts to provide adequate sanitation for every citizen, necessitating immediate attention to planning, funding, and the development of cohesive policies in the affected regions to ensure that all Brazilians have access to fundamental sanitary services.