Conflicts in water and sanitation policies: what kind of universalization do we seek?

Abstract

Among the multiple uses of water, human consumption stands out for its role in maintaining life. The objective of this article is to discuss the universalization of access to water and sanitation as common. To discuss this central issue of the universalization of services, the article develops four fundamental points: i) global overview of access to drinking water and sewage; ii) socio-environmental context of basic sanitation in Brazil; iii) access to water and basic sanitation as a human right, and iv) the unfolding of the definition of universal basic sanitation services in three spheres of water management, and how the understanding of the proposed universalization contributes to the development of the sector in Brazil. The article analyzes the historical contradictions around the concept of universalization and the existing mechanisms to achieve it and to measure its evolution.