Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico

The Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico (ANA) is Brazil’s federal agency responsible for the regulation and management of the country’s water resources, operating under the authority of the Ministry of Regional Development. Its core functions include granting water use rights, monitoring the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater, and overseeing compliance with the National Water Resources Policy. ANA develops and updates river basin plans, coordinates the activities of basin committees, and issues technical standards for water allocation and conservation. The agency also maintains national monitoring networks that provide real‑time data on river levels, rainfall, and drought conditions, which are essential for early warning systems and water security planning. In addition to regulatory duties, ANA offers educational programs and training courses aimed at water professionals, students, and the general public to promote sustainable water practices. It manages metadata portals that catalogue hydrological and environmental information, making datasets accessible for research, policy‑making, and public consultation. The agency’s work supports a wide range of stakeholders, including state and municipal governments, agricultural and industrial users, hydroelectric operators, and civil society organizations. By integrating technical expertise with participatory governance, ANA seeks to balance competing water demands while protecting aquatic ecosystems. Its activities extend across the entire Brazilian territory, covering all major river basins from the Amazon to the Paraná‑Paraguay system. The agency’s regulatory decisions are grounded in scientific assessments and are subject to periodic review to adapt to changing climatic and socio‑economic conditions. ANA also collaborates with other federal entities, such as the Ministry of the Environment and the National Water and Sanitation Secretariat, to align water policy with broader environmental and sanitation objectives. Through its monitoring platforms, the agency provides critical information during extreme events, helping authorities implement timely mitigation and response measures. The recent cyber incident in September 2023 highlighted the importance of securing its digital infrastructure, prompting a temporary disconnection of external communications and a phased restoration of key services like drought monitoring tools and educational catalogs.

ANA operates as an autarchy, meaning it possesses administrative and financial autonomy while remaining part of the Brazilian federal executive branch. Its leadership is appointed by the President of Brazil, and the agency reports directly to the Minister of Regional Development, ensuring alignment with national development strategies. The agency’s structure includes specialized departments for water allocation, basin management, water quality, and institutional relations, each staffed by technical specialists and engineers. ANA’s funding derives from the federal budget, supplemented by fees collected for water use permits and other regulatory services. It maintains regional offices in key hydrographic regions to facilitate localized implementation of national policies and to engage directly with river basin committees. The agency’s regulatory role is distinguished by its focus on integrated water resources management, which combines quantitative allocation with qualitative protection and stakeholder participation. ANA’s technical competencies are recognized internationally, and it often participates in joint projects with organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme. Its mandate also encompasses basic sanitation oversight, linking water resource management to public health outcomes. By fostering transparency through open data portals and public consultations, ANA aims to build trust and encourage responsible water stewardship across Brazilian society. The agency’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity resilience reflect its commitment to maintaining reliable service delivery amid evolving digital threats.