Brazil is less urbanized than what official statistics indicate: the total urban area (with pavement, basic infrastructure services, telephone systems, homes and businesses) covers just 0.25 percent of the country, according to a study by the satellite monitoring center of the Brazilian agricultural research agency, Embrapa. The new measurements will help correct public policies and planning. The investment needed for basic sanitation in Brazil, estimated at more than 55 billion dollars, is likely exaggerated, study coordinator Evaristo de Miranda told Tierramérica.

In Brazil it is the municipal governments that define the urbanized areas. As such, the census considers more than 80 pecent of the national population to be urban dwellers, surpassing the portion of many industrialized countries — which suggests the figures are distorted.

The acceptable limit of urbanization of a municipality is 25 percent — above that there is environmental degradation, lower quality of life and frequent flooding, said Miranda.