Brazil’s sanitation market has entered 2026 with renewed momentum following the award of a major public–private partnership (PPP) in the southern city of Brusque, in the state of Santa Catarina. The 35-year contract, granted by the municipal government, was secured by Aegea Saneamento and is expected to mobilize investments of 1.5 billion reais (approximately US$290 million).
The concession centres on the rollout of a comprehensive sewage collection and treatment system. Brusque currently lacks wastewater treatment infrastructure, and the project sets a target of achieving at least 95% service coverage by 2033. Aegea submitted a bid featuring a 17% tariff discount and a 60 million reais grant.
“Today a legacy begins for the population of Brusque. Sanitation has the power to transform lives. And today we take a step in that direction and, in a short time, the population will already see the great transformation that will take place. We are aware of our responsibilities when we take on such sanitation contracts; although we are a private company, we know that we are providers of public services,” said Leandro Marin Ramos da Silva, Aegea’s regional vice president.
BNAmericas reports the tender drew three bidders, with proposals also presented by GS Inima Brasil and the CSH Consortium, comprising CS Infra, Hydrosistem Engenharia and CS Brasil.
Further PPP tenders are lined up for March, reinforcing strong activity across multiple Brazilian states. In the state of Goiás, Saneago is scheduled to hold a bidding process on March 25 for a 6.2 billion reais contract aimed at expanding wastewater infrastructure and advancing universalization targets. In Paraíba, Cagepa is preparing a 3 billion reais PPP covering 85 municipalities, seeking to broaden sewage service coverage under a long-term arrangement.
Additional projects are also progressing in Ceará and in Rondônia. In Ceará, a new sanitation PPP is being structured for services currently operated by Cagece, with the aim of expanding sewage coverage through regionalized contracts. In Rondônia, concessions for water supply and wastewater services are being prepared with support from BNDES, which is leading the technical and financial structuring to attract private operators.
At the same time, privatisation is shaping the sector’s outlook in the southeast. The government of Minas Gerais is preparing a share offering for Copasa that could raise up to 10 billion reais, as part of a broader fiscal strategy while potentially opening the company’s capital to new strategic investors.
