Author(s): Kássia Regina Bazzo, Otávio Maruyama Wogel, Andreia Pedroso, Artur Cerveira Bertone, Candice Schauffert Garcia, Laertes Munhoz Da Cunha, Heloísa De Puppi E. Silva

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Keywords: Water uses charge; Water charging in Brazil; Water resources laws;

Abstract: The main guiding document for water resources management in Brazil is the the National Water Resources Policy (PNRH), implemented in 1997 by the National Act nº 9.433. The Brazilian Water Law was built on the principles of the 1964 French Water Law and implemented integrated water management at river basin scale and the concept of water as a public good with economic value, hence appropriate charging mechanisms were required. Since the implementation of the instrument, both countries have been developing their water management systems. In Brazil, the major change was the creation of the National Water Agency (ANA), while in France the Government enacted the 2006 Law on Water and Aquatic Environments (LEMA). Inspired by a consultancy project carried out between 2018-2019 by the company RHA Engenharia e Consultoria SS Ltda., this paper aims to analyze the water policies implemented in both countries, identifying which aspects could improve Brazilian water charging methods, particularly in the Paraíba do Sul river basin (BPS), an economically relevant Brazilian river basin. It was identified that although the French experience in water management brought positive innovations and presented many examples that may aid the achievement of the objectives set by the PNRH, an analysis of the system’s flaws is also necessary.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/38WC092019-1214

Year: 2019