On May 29, FGV's Brazilian Institute of Economics (FGV/IBRE) and the magazine Conjuntura Econômica held the seminar ?Saneamento e Gestão dos Recursos Hídricos: Perspectivas sobre os temas de tratamento e abastecimento público e produtivo no Brasil? (Sanitation and Management  of Water Resources: Perspectives on the treatment and public and private supply in Brazil) ?  gathering experts, representatives of the government, private initiative and unions with the purpose to address and promote new ways of learning about the efficiency of the system of basic sanitation and management of water resources in Brazil.Held at FGV's auditorium at Berrini avenue, in São Paulo, the event was split in three panels, which approached public and private partnerships, sustainable management, public supply and water treatment technologies for production processes.Investment is a challenge to sanitationDespite the advanced regulations and planning ? with the Brazilian National Plan for Basic Sanitation (Plansab) by the end of 2013 ? the progress of sanitation works towards the universalization of the service will depend on the capacity of investment and execution of resources planned for the sector. That's the assessment by Ernani Ciríaco de Miranda, director of institutional articulation of the Ministry of Cities, who attended the seminar.At the meeting, Miranda reminded that in order to achieve the universalization goal related to such services until 2033, the country will have to start investing around R$ 15 billion every year. ?The average today is R$ 10 billion. It is not bad, since in 2006 the amount was R$ 4 million per year, but it continues to be a big challenge.?The director also pointed out the competition for existing resources compared to other emerging demands in infrastructure, such as housing and mobility. ?Moreover, we must also reduce the cycle of investment execution we have today?, he stated, mentioning that the deadline for total application of resources made available is around five to seven years. ?This means that the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC) for the sector ? which has completed seven years ? produced slight results in terms of sanitation so far?, he said.Besides investments, Miranda highlighted that the Brazilian sanitation and water resources sector also requires improvements in the operation and maintenance of existing systems, and mentioned the high rate of losses in the water distribution system. ?Estimates indicate an R$ 8 billion loss per year due to such losses. If we could recover 60% of them, this would bring a positive result of R$ 5 billion, among resources we avoid to lose and the increase of revenue?, according to his calculations.IBRE has already made available the material that includes the event's presentations.Click here and check it out (in Portuguese).