Tipologia dos municípios brasileiros em relação ao saneamento básico

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a typology of Brazilian municipalities based on indicators of access to basic sanitation, using data from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS) and the Brazilian Demographic Census (IBGE) for the year 2022. A total of 5,189 municipalities were analyzed using eight variables, including the proportion of households with access to water supply networks, sewage systems, waste collection, proportional revenue of sanitation service providers, average tariff applied, and the number of direct employees. Factor analysis revealed three main factors: the first, related to basic sanitation infrastructure, explained 35% of the variance in the data; the second factor, linked to economic development and the average tariff charged for services, explained 16%; and the third factor, associated with the operational and financial capacity of service providers, accounted for 15% of the variance. Cluster analysis identified three distinct groups: Group 1, predominantly in the South and Southeast regions, characterized by greater access to basic infrastructure and higher operational capacity; Group 2, with intermediate characteristics, spread across the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast; and Group 3, concentrated in the North and Northeast regions, with lower sanitation access rates and limited operational and revenue-generating capacity. Additionally, a ranking was developed based on Factor 1, highlighting the municipalities with the best and worst scores in basic sanitation infrastructure. Piraí (RJ) topped the ranking, while Santo Antônio do Içá (AM) showed the worst performance, evidencing regional disparities. These results provide important inputs for the formulation of targeted public policies, such as investments in infrastructure, incentives for public-private partnerships, subsidies for municipalities with low revenue, and the implementation of social tariffs to promote equity in access to sanitation. The information generated can guide specific regional strategies, contributing to reducing regional inequalities and promoting sustainable development in the basic sanitation sector.