DIAGNOSIS OF MANAGEMENT MODELS OF WATER SUPPLY SERVICES IN RURAL LOCALITIES IN BIRITINGA (BA)

Abstract

Historically, public water supply policies in the rural context have always been incipient. While conventional urban areas have been contemplated with more concrete actions to serve the population needs, urban suburbs and rural locations were marginalized, relying on initiatives developed in a fragmented, discontinued, and isolated manner. This work aims to diagnose the management models of water supply services in rural areas of Biritinga (BA). The case study consisted of a comparative and quali-quantitative analysis of the aspects concerning the management functions (planning, regulation, supervision, and provision) and social control in the distinct management models used in the rural districts of Biritinga regarding the provision of water supply services. The findings showed that three distinct water supply management models have been used, namely: Concession through EMBASA, Public Administration/City Hall, and self-management by Rural Community Associations. Water supply systems managed by City Hall and Associations have problems regarding management functions – planning, regulation, supervision, and provision. Social involvement and control are incipient in the management models of Public Administration and EMBASA, being present only in the self-management model. Thus, the contribution of this study was to better understand the reality of rural communities in the context of water supply for human consumption.