O: went from 2.98 million to 6 million in just over 1 year. The program grants discounts of up to 78% on water tariffs for low-income families or those in socially vulnerable situations. There are also investments in basic sanitation in the State of São Paulo, with a forecast of R$70 billion by 2029, which will allow the universalization goal established by 4 years to be brought forward.
With such initiatives, management wants to guarantee health, dignity and quality of life for millions of people. Sabesp’s funding for expanding the network in 2025 exceeded R$15.2 billion, more than double the 2024 contribution.
Investments are reflected in the population’s quality of life. According to , , 6 of the 10 cities with the best water and sewage treatment rates in Brazil are in the State. The list is led by Franca, served by Sabesp – which provides services.
Benefits of the São Paulo Social Tariff
The São Paulo Social Tariff applies direct discounts on water consumption of up to 78%, with a ceiling that exceeds 50%. To access the benefit, you must have an up-to-date registration with the (Single Registry for Social Programs). The tariff discount is divided into 3 bands:
- Vulnerable: 78% discount, aimed at families with per capita income of up to ¼ of the minimum wage;
- Social 1: 72% discount for families with income per capita of up to ½ minimum wage. Unemployed people who received up to 3 minimum wages in their last job, residents of social housing and families with income are also eligible. per capita of up to ½ minimum wage, who have a disabled person or elderly person aged 65 or over, who receives the BPC (Continuous Payment Benefit); and
- Social 2: 50% discount applicable to consumption of up to 15m³, for 24 months from connection, for families living in informal urban centers subject to regularization (such as occupations and settlements).
In the 3rd category, Sabesp identifies the beneficiaries according to the schedule of network connection works. In the case of the unemployed, it is necessary to prove their condition with Sabesp, after 6 months of the initial granting of the benefit. With this, they will be able to maintain the discount for another semester, totaling 1 year, at most. Residents of collective housing must also prove the situation.
In both cases, the request for the benefit and the sending of supporting documents must be made by . The São Paulo Social Tariff has all the rules and information.
Read the infographic about the São Paulo Social Tariff and basic sanitation.
Access represents health and dignity
Although sanitation is defined as an essential service, not all Brazilian municipalities have access to water and treated sewage networks. The data, referring to 2024, show that 43.3% of the country’s population does not have sewage collection and 15.9% does not have access to treated water.
According to the 2025 study “”, by Trata Brasil, it is estimated that the universalization of sanitation should reduce the number of DRSAI (diseases related to inadequate environmental sanitation) by 86,760 per year. This would imply savings of R$49.9 million annually in the health sector.
To produce socioeconomic benefits, the government of São Paulo will continue to invest in the universalization of sanitation, allowing the State’s population to have a structure that produces direct impacts on health and the economy, guaranteeing dignity for those who previously lived on the margins of the formal system.
This is the case of Francisca Fernanda Oliveira de Lima, resident of the south zone of the capital of São Paulo. Before the region was connected to the water network, it depended on an artesian well. “Our community didn’t have water. So, we used water trucks, but the queue to get water was huge. We spent the night without sleeping so we could fill containers, bottles and buckets with water”, these.
With the arrival of the sewage system and treated water, her reality changed. “Through the arrival of water, we were able to have proof of residence. Last year, they already brought sewage. It’s a very big victory. Very important in our lives and in our home too”these.
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