COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN WATER AND SANITATION PUBLIC SERVICES IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil introduces a new configuration parameter in planning and management of public issues. The democratic process permits more active participation by citizens in public policies of water and sanitation services. In Bahia, Brazil, this process is progressing, helped by passed legislation in recent years. This study is aiming to identify and disseminate the importance of the social participation in water and sanitation services in Bahia. It is a descriptive study, include a bibliographic research about the Municipal Council adopted by the State of Bahia for sanitation. The findings from the study suggests that further studies are necessary in order to improve and expand the engagement and work on urban sanitation services.