Brazil brings back cistern construction program

Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family, and Fight against Hunger has announced the revival of its national rainwater harvesting initiative, known as Cisterns Program. With agreements in place and calls for proposals launched, investment in 2023 should surpass BRL 562 million and benefit 60 thousand families.

The plan includes the installation of cisterns for drinking and food production in the semiarid region, as well as individual and community water systems in the Amazon. These two projects are set to receive BRL 500 million in funding.

The remaining resources will be allocated to the Rural Development Program (BRL 46.44 mi) and the One Million Cisterns Program Association (BRL 16 mi), to reach 1,188 families and 216 schools.

The Cisterns Program is a partnership between the federal government, public entities, and pre-qualified nonprofits, which should be tasked with social mobilization, training, and organization.

Started in 2003, the initiative had a focus on Brazil’s semiarid region. Later on, it expanded to other areas in the Northeast and is now active across several biomes, including the Amazon. According to the ministry, over 1.14 million cisterns were built in 20 years, with over 1 million units delivered by 2016.