Much of the technology required is not manufactured in Brazil. Many of the multi-billion water projects include the construction of significant numbers of sewage treatment plants. According to the National Basic Sanitation Equipment Manufacturers' Union, the sanitation equipment sector grew around 25 per cent in 2000, having generated revenues of some 758 million Brazilian Reals in 1999. Following an initial filing, a certain period will be allowed to lapse in which complaints to the filing may be received. Patents are valid for 10-15 years, after which time a new application must be registered for continued validity.
Trademarks are in theory valid forever.
In the water and sanitation sector, the complicated web of responsibilities for the existing services offered by federal, state and municipal bodies means that there are no generic rules for the participation by either Brazilian or foreign companies in tenders and contracts offered. Arnt therefore stresses that there is no single, easy source of information for persons wishing to discover up and coming opportunities in the water sector. ANA, in turn, is expected to eventually become a driving force behind sectorial privatisations. There are meanwhile considerable expectations over the basic sanitation bill which the government is shortly to dispatch to congress for consideration. This should establish which water or sanitation services fall to states or municipalities to provide.