SABESP's water network grew from 73,015 km at the end of 2016 to 93,163 km at the end of 2023, an increase of 27.6%. Its sewer network rose 27.0% over the same years, to 63,635 km. Losses per connection did not keep pace with that progress.
Steady gains, then a reversal
Losses fell every year from 308 liters per connection per day in 2016 to 249 in 2022, then rose to 260 in 2023. The total losses index moved from 27.0% in 2020 to 30% in 2023. SABESP's total distribution losses index stood at 30.5% at the end of 2025, against 34.6% at the end of 2012.
A regulatory target still ahead
In its Third Ordinary Tariff Revision, the São Paulo State Public Services Regulatory Agency set a target of 215.07 liters per connection per day over two tariff cycles running to 2028. Under the new regional concession, SABESP reports meeting its 2025 loss-reduction targets for 323 municipalities.
Sewer growth stalled before privatization
The sewer network added only 78 km in 2023, the last full year before the July 2024 privatization. At June 30, 2026 SABESP had 9,487 thousand water connections and 8,230 thousand sewage connections, a gap of about 1.26 million.
Meters as the next tool
SABESP and Vivo have begun replacing 4.4 million meters in São Paulo city and São José dos Campos under a R$3.8 billion smart metering project. São José dos Campos is targeted for 100% digital metering in 2026 and São Paulo city by 2029.
The report also answers how the 2025–2026 drought changed the value of every lost liter, which treatment projects are due before the 2029 deadline, and how the regulator will treat the investment surge at the November 2029 review. The full report, Water Systems Overview: SABESP, is available for USD 499 at https://ourfuturewaterintelligence.com/reports/water-systems-overview-sabesp. For a free overview, read the SABESP Utility Snapshot at https://ourfuturewaterintelligence.com/utilities/sabesp.