Water pollution. Eutrophication. Domestic sewage. Environmental management. Environmental economics. Hydroeconomics. Water scarcity.
Charging for the use of raw water is an important instrument for the management of water resources in Brazil and worldwide. Its objectives are to induce users to recognize water as a public good endowed with economic value and to the rational and sustainable use of water, in addition to generating revenue to finance the water resources management system. In Rio Grande do Norte, charging for the use of raw water has not yet been implemented and studies are needed to determine the prices of effluent discharge rates and to assess the payment capacity of the user sectors. This work aims to define the tariff price for domestic effluent releases by the basic sanitation sector and to evaluate the possible impact for the sector of the future charging for the use of raw water for this purpose. Data on gross income, fixed and variable costs of the water and sewage company in Rio Grande do Norte will be collected to determine the ability to pay for the use of raw water for the dilution of domestic effluents. This study is expected to assist the government in defining a tariff that is economically viable for the sanitation sector and that can generate significant revenues to help finance the RN's water resources system.