{"id":80677,"date":"2025-03-27T15:35:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T18:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=80677"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:03:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T12:03:01","slug":"its-a-right-without-water-well-die-world-water-day-protest-demands-the-right-to-water-in-the-favelas-of-greater-rio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=80677","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It’s a Right! Without Water, We’ll Die\u2019: World Water Day Protest Demands the Right to Water in the Favelas of Greater Rio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Protesters<\/a>
Protesters display banners during World Water Day demonstration in front of private water utility \u00c1guas do Rio in downtown Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Amanda Baroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n

On March 20, just days before World Water Day<\/a>, popular movements and members of civil society gathered in front of private water utility \u00c1guas do Rio<\/a> to demand the right to water<\/a> for favelas and peripheral areas across the state of Rio de Janeiro. The company has been responsible for water and sewerage services in the capital and 26 other municipalities since 2021. According to residents of various favelas in Greater Rio, however, the universalization and improvement of these services in favelas remain a distant reality<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Luiza Helena<\/a>, a Social Work student at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ<\/a>) and a resident of the favelas of Complexo do Chapad\u00e3o<\/a>, in the city\u2019s North Zone, expresses her frustration: despite paying R$60-70 (~US$10-12) per month for the utility\u2019s services, she sometimes goes up to 20 days without water\u2014a situation that has even kept her from attending class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that they [\u00c1guas do Rio] say they provide a good service to the population is a lie. I\u2019d like to see the contract \u00c1guas do Rio [has with the] community… You give them your address… your taxpayer ID, email\u2014and [that counts as] an agreement that you have [had access to] your rights? Where is the contract between the [favela] consumer and the company? It does not exist. I believe they still have a lot to improve, you know? People are not asking for a favor\u2014it\u2019s a right. Sanitation, water\u2014that brings life. Without water, we’ll die. How can anyone live without water? When you\u2019re home, everything you do depends on water. There\u2019s no doing anything without water.\u201d \u2014 Luiza Helena<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The protest took place two days before World Water Day, a date established<\/a> by the United Nations General Assembly. Organized by the Popular Network for Sanitation and Health Monitoring<\/a>, the event was supported by various partner organizations, including the Mar\u00e9 Museum<\/a>; the nationwide Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB<\/a>); Brazil’s national health institute, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz<\/a>); the Union of Water and Sewerage Service Workers of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Sind\u00e1gua\/RJ<\/a>); and the Rio de Janeiro Climate Coalition<\/a>. The gathering was attended by parliamentarians Yuri Moura<\/a> and Dani Monteiro<\/a>, as well as representatives from the offices of Tarc\u00edsio Motta<\/a>, Dani Balbi<\/a>, Renata Souza<\/a>, and Thais Ferreira<\/a>. Residents from the Vig\u00e1rio Geral<\/a>, Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, and Complexo do Chapad\u00e3o favelas also took part. No spokesperson from \u00c1guas do Rio came forwards to make a statement during the mobilization.<\/p>\n

\"During<\/a>
During the World Water Day demonstration in front of \u00c1guas do Rio, protesters denounce the privatization of water. Photo: Amanda Baroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018<\/b>Water for Life, Not for Death\u2019<\/b><\/h3>\n

The privatization of water distribution and sewage treatment services in Rio de Janeiro took place in April 2021, using the pandemic as cover<\/a> to advance the process\u2014despite global trends toward remunicipalization<\/a> and widespread local opposition from both the public<\/a> and industry professionals<\/a>. On that occasion, the company \u00c1guas do Rio won the bid for CEDAE<\/a>, taking over the management of these services for 10 million consumers.<\/p>\n

In 2023, according to Jo\u00e3o Roberto Lopes Pinto<\/a>, a Political Science professor at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO<\/a>) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio<\/a>), the utility reported a net profit of R$614 million (~US$107 million)\u2014an amount six times greater than the total allocated to all favelas under the Investment Plan for Non-Upgraded Irregular Areas (AINUs).<\/p>\n

Also in 2023, according to the professor, the Consumer Defense Institute (Procon-RJ) recorded a 564% increase in complaints against the private utility compared to 2022, totaling 26,920 cases filed to assert consumer rights. Sharp increases in water bills, supply cuts, incorrect charges, and lack of access to services are among the reasons that led residents of Rio de Janeiro to take legal action against \u00c1guas do Rio.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the Water and Energy Justice in the Favelas<\/a> mapping, conducted by the Sustainable Favela Network<\/a>, highlighted both the lack of access and the poor quality of the services provided by the utility.<\/p>\n

Another popular mobilization for the right to water took place earlier in the week, on March 19, in front of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj). The demonstration pressured public authorities to approve the creation of the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Water and a Public-owned CEDAE, since the state government has shown interest in opening CEDAE\u2019s capital since December 2024. If this plan moves forward, the entire management of the service\u2014from treatment to distribution\u2014will be concentrated in the hands of \u00c1guas do Rio and other private utilities, such as Igu\u00e1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Uma publica\u00e7\u00e3o compartilhada por Rede de Vigil\u00e2ncia Popular em Saneamento e Sa\u00fade (@redevigilanciapopular)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n