When we think of sanitation, treated water, sewage collection and treatment services immediately come to mind, but their advantages go far beyond that. The benefits of basic sanitation include economic and social advances in various spheres of society. Check it out below.
Basic sanitation is immediately related to health. In addition to preventing waterborne diseases, such as gastrointestinal infections, amoebiasis, hepatitis, among others, it also prevents the proliferation of mosquitoes such as Aedes Aegypti, which transmits yellow fever, dengue and zika.
The reduction of diseases not only brings benefits to the health of the population but also to the public coffers, by reducing the number of visits to SUS.
Can you imagine an idyllic place without sewage treatment and drinking water? The development of tourism depends on an adequate infrastructure, both to guarantee the quality of services and to ensure the health of tourists and residents of the region.
According to data from Trata Brasil, the contamination of the environment by sewage compromises the tourist potential of a region. It is estimated that the gains from tourism resulting from the universalization of basic sanitation could reach R$1.2 billion per year between 2015 and 2035. In addition, the treatment of water and sewage also values sustainable tourism, increases the income of workers in the sector, brings profit for companies and greater tax collection for governments.
Among the benefits of basic sanitation is also the appreciation of real estate. According to IBGE data from 2015, there was a great impact of sanitation on the value of properties and on the economy. The research indicated that when considering two properties in similar neighborhoods that differ only in access to sanitation, the one with sewage collection and water treatment services could cost up to 14% more. Access to basic sanitation services is related to the development of regions and, consequently, to their appreciation.
Investment in basic sanitation generates jobs almost immediately. After all, for the service implementation works it is necessary to employ several workers. Data from the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) indicate that for every R$ 1 billion invested in sanitation, 58,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created: 27 thousand in industry, 25 thousand in the service sector and 5.9 thousand in agriculture.
It may seem that these things are not related, but the lack of basic sanitation negatively impacts the right to education. People who live in areas without access to the water distribution and sewage collection network are more behind in school, which also implies a loss of productivity and lower compensation for future generations. In 2015 alone, the cost of school delay due to lack of sanitation reached R$ 16.6 billion. This delay is mainly due to diseases associated with the lack of sanitation, so in areas with access to potable water and sewage treatment, tardiness and truancy tend to be lower.
According to CNI, the creation of new jobs has a direct effect on the population's earnings. It is estimated that every R$ 1 billion invested in basic sanitation results in an increase of R$ 545 million in the average Brazilian salary.
With the increase in income, consumption also increases, heating up the country's economy.
All the benefits of basic sanitation culminate in the improvement of quality of life. Access to treated water and the sewage collection network reduces the rate of diseases, reducing the expenses of the public health system. In addition, job creation and increased income bring more comfort and stability to the population.
