The new study by Instituto Trata Brasil, in partnership with GO Associados, shows that leaks, thefts, errors in water meter readings, among other factors, caused losses of over R$11 billion in 2017. Eight states lose half or more of the water they produce, with Roraima having the worst rate. The loss in distribution reaches 75%, which means that for every 100 liters of water collected, treated and ready to be distributed, 75 liters are lost along the way.
“The increase in water production may lead us to believe that there is greater consumption by the population and other uses of drinking water, but in reality, we may be taking more water just to compensate for the increase in losses. This would be terrible for the sustainability of the system itself and for users,” highlights Édison Carlos, from Instituto Trata Brasil, in the study.
