Water Supply to Brazil’s Northeastern Cities May Be Interrupted for Lack of Funds

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Due to lack of funds, families that rely on tank trucks in the Northeast are expected to stop receiving drinking water as of this Sunday, November 1st, during the drought season in the region.

According to reports, the service interruption has been announced by members of the federal government to state and municipal authorities of states such as Bahia and Pernambuco.

The initiative, which serves some 850 municipalities, provides for the Army to inspect and coordinate water distribution in drought-affected areas.

A Bahia army battalion notice sent to tank truck drivers on Thursday, October 29th, stated that the service would be interrupted “due to lack of funds for diverse payments”.

The federal government was aware that funds were insufficient and requested the reallocation of resources to allow the Army to hire tanker trucks. However, the bill authorizing the measure has not yet been voted by Congress.

A document dated September 30th attached to the PLN (National Congress Bill) No. 30 reports that the credit on the agenda aims to enable the Ministry of Regional Development, among others, to cover expenses.

It details that the resources are intended for the “funding of Operation Tanker Truck between the months of September to December in order to ensure the supply of drinking water to the population affected by drought in the semi-arid region of Brazil, among others”. The text is signed by Minister of Economy Paulo Guedes.

On Friday, October 30th, Senator Jaques Wagner (PT – Workers’ Party, Bahia) lodged a request for clarifications from Minister Rogério Marinho (Regional Development) regarding the water supply in the North and Northeast.

The document points out that the initiative involves some 7,000 vehicles, which carry water to 79,000 supply points and collective storage tanks.

In São Bento do Una (PE), 210 km from Recife, the city hall said there are 144 points supplied by the Army. With the service interruption, Mayor Débora Almeida (PSB – Brazilian Socialist Party) said that between 30 and 40 families will be deprived of water.

“It’s terrible. We are experiencing a drought. The city government is unable to supply everyone. It is impossible,” Almeida said. “I don’t even have enough tanker trucks. I only have three trucks and we have to supply the hospital, the health center, and the schools, even though they are not working. We can’t serve enough people,” she said.

The mayor said that one of her secretaries was sent a message from the Army that said “I hereby advise you that the operation will be halted next week until we receive the funds from the MDR [Ministry of Regional Development]. We had our work orders placed, but no credit was received.”

The president of the AMUPE (Pernambuco Municipal Association), José Patriota, said that the mayors were notified of the cut only on Friday, two days before the service will be interrupted.

In the late afternoon, he was still considering the situation and coordinating a solution to the problem with the Northeastern bench in Congress.

The region has experienced seven years of drought, between 2012 and 2019. In 2020, it rained again, but now it is dry. “This is going to cause a great commotion. It’s the peak of drought in the whole semiarid Northeast,” said Patriota.

The Ministry of Regional Development reported that it requested a budget supplementation to preserve the tanker trucks operation, as well as the continuity of essential works in the areas of sanitation and water safety, thereby preventing stoppages.

The reallocation of resources is provided for in PLN 30, which awaits consideration by the National Congress. According to the portfolio, for the maintenance of the tank trucks operation until the end of the year, R$142 million are required.

Senate president Davi Alcolumbre (DEM – Democrats), said that Congress will hold a session on Wednesday, November 4th, to vote all 29 PLNs, articles that make room in the Budget and which are sitting on his desk.

Source: Folha de S.Paulo