For example, the biggest drinking water plant in the world, located in Guandu, Rio de Janeiro (produces 43,000 litres per second, or 3.7 billion litres of water per day) is currently being expanded to add another 12,000 litres of water per second. Rio de Janeiro will invest $700 million to increase the supply of drinking water and tackle rising demand. The growth in demand for water exposes the weakness of countries in the region of managing their water resources. By the end of this year, Latin American countries are set to invest billions not only to increase and improve drinking water supply from rivers and lakes but also from oceans. In some countries the immediate need to increase the water supply leaves no other option to political and industrial leaders but to invest in seawater desalination treatment plants.
Urban migration
In the last 20 years, some of the economies in Latin America have witnessed a tremendous rate of development resulting in improved living standards. A study done by Banco Santander showed that, from 2002 to 2006, "15 millions households ceased to be poor and became low middle class" (El Pais 2007). One reason for this was that millions of people migrated from rural to urban areas in the region. Today, Sao Paolo in Brazil (20 million inhabitants), Mexico City in Mexico (20 Million inhabitants) and Buenos Aires in Argentina (13 million inhabitants) are three of the largest cities in the world and their metropolitan areas represent a large portion of the economic output generated in these countries.
Revitalising polluted water sources
Connection rates of drinking water and basic sanitation did not follow the same growth patterns of industrial and urban development. Some governments in the region have introduced new environmental legislation in a bid to regulate the discharge limits of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants and improve the drinking water quality standards for human consumption. But its enforcement is poor and in some regions non-existent.
The assessment from the Banco Interamericano de Desarollo is clear. "Although Latin America and the Caribbean region is on track to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) regarding coverage in water and sanitation, the quality of services is severely deficient and the region is far behind on wastewater treatment," it said.
Most traditional water sources in the region, such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater are polluted as a result of decades of state, public and industrial mismanagement. Their revitalisation will be carried out during the next decades and will need billions of dollars in investments.
Brazil for example, under a Program of Accelerated Growth (PAC), allocated $25 billion to guarantee that everyone in Brazil will have access to safe drinking water and access to basic waste
Investment
During the next 15 years, countries in Latin America are expected to invest in the basic water and wastewater infrastructure and treatment technology. This will be to guarantee that all households are connected to water, and wastewater treatment plants; that water is safe for drinking, and wastewater does not cause environmental problems such as eutrophication.
