FENASAN 2026: Accurately Measuring Water Consumption for Greater Transparency in Brazil
Water scarcity is a major concern worldwide. In Brazil, in particular, the situation is as follows: The country has abundant fresh water. At the same time, significant amounts of water are lost in the public supply networks. The lack of individual consumption metering in many older residential buildings also makes transparent billing difficult. These issues were addressed by the FENASAN 2026, one of the most important trade fairs for the water and wastewater industry in South America. It took place from October 20 to 22, 2026, at the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. FENASAN provided Engelmann with the opportunity to engage with water utilities, professional planners, and other industry representatives. And Engelmann presented the right solutions. The focus was on the WaterStar M. Given the water losses, a key question arose: How can actual water consumption be reliably measured?
About 40 percent water loss in Brazil
Figures from the Instituto Trata Brasil: According to these figures, water loss in Brazil’s public distribution networks stood at just under 40 percent in 2024. This did not only include water lost through leaky pipes. The indicator also included apparent losses, such as those resulting from inaccurate metering, faulty consumption tracking, or unauthorized water withdrawals. The north and northeast of Brazil are particularly affected by this. In some states, loss rates even exceed 55 percent.
An additional challenge: tracking individual consumption
In addition to losses in public water systems, Brazilian residential buildings face another challenge: older apartment buildings often have only a single central water meter. This meter records total consumption and then allocates the costs to the individual units according to predetermined formulas. Actual individual consumption is not recorded. With the Law 13,312 of 2016 Brazil made individual water metering mandatory for new residential complexes. In existing buildings, however, retrofitting is often difficult: technical requirements, installation costs, and coordination among owners can sometimes complicate modernization efforts. On the other hand, there are clear advantages: If the actual amounts consumed by each residential unit are reliably measured with a water meter, this enables fair cost allocation. At the same time, historical consumption data helps identify unusual changes early on. While individual water meters do not prevent pipeline leaks in the public water supply network, they do improve the data available within buildings. In this way, they contribute to transparent billing and the conscious use of water—two aspects that are becoming increasingly important due to the growing demands on Brazil’s water supply system.
