# Brazil Spent £2.1bn to Divert a River in the Outback—Where Did the Water Go?

Brazil spent £2.1 billion diverting a river in its arid outback, but much of the water has evaporated or been lost to inefficiency. The project was meant to supply drought-prone regions, but corruption and poor planning have left communities still dry. This raises questions about large-scale infrastructure spending in vulnerable areas.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Business
- [The Guardian Biz](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/22/sao-francisco-river-brazil-water-scarcity-canal-diversion-sertao) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:00:12 GMT