Strategic Planning for Physical Asset Management (SAMP) of Water Infrastructure in Basic Sanitation Companies: A Framework.
Basic Sanitation; Water Infrastructure; Asset Management; Maintenance; Strategic Planning; Regulatory Governance.
The modernization of the Brazilian basic sanitation sector, intensified by the New Legal Framework for Sanitation (Law No. 14,026/2020), imposes challenges on sanitation utilities sector related to service universalization, economic and financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance. In this context, this study aims to structure a Strategic Asset Management Planning (SAMP) framework applicable to the water infrastructure of basic sanitation companies. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on three essentials pillars: basic sanitation and water infrastructure; the evolution of maintenance management; and the principles and guidelines of asset management, which provide the conceptual and normative basis for the development of the proposed model. Methodologically, the research adopts an applied, qualitative, and exploratory approach, operationalized through a systematic literature review with a ten-year time horizon, documentary analysis of regulatory standards, and critical analysis of the identified variables. As a result, a theoretical-conceptual model structured into nine interdependent dimensions is proposed, addressing aspects ranging from organisational governance to digital transformation and operational intelligence, organized by processes and guided toward value generation. The developed framework contributes to aligning corporate strategic objectives with technical and operational decisions related to physical assets, providing guidelines for the planning, implementation, and operationalization of SAMP in sanitation companies. It is concluded that the proposed framework systematically engages with the main actors involved in the provision and regulation of sanitation services, contributing to more transparent, sustainable, and data-driven long-term decision-making, in line with the National Basic Sanitation Plan (PLANSAB) and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6, considering the specificities of the Brazilian basic sanitation context.