Contratos de concessão para prestação dos serviços de abastecimento de água em Alagoas à luz do novo marco legal do saneamento

Abstract

The recent legislation on sanitation, codified in Law No. 14,026/2020, has introduced a new paradigm for the provision of water supply and sewage services in Brazil. Regionalization and the attraction of private investment are key strategies for achieving ambitious universal service goals. However, the transition to this new model has significant impacts on the populations served, particularly regarding tariffs, which are essential for ensuring the economic viability of the concessions. In the state of Alagoas, the concession contracts aim to universalize services in 74 of the 102 municipalities, with a particular focus on water supply, which is crucial to public health and quality of life. This study analyzes the regional sanitation plans developed for the concession blocks, characterizes the regionalization model adopted, and outlines the initial conditions faced by the concessionaires. A comparative analysis of data from SNIS and SINISA, covering reference years up to 2023, was carried out to evaluate the impacts of the new contractual framework, through a comparison of the periods before and after the concessions. The investigation of the contract signed for the Metropolitan Region of Maceió, alongside an analysis of the financial and tariff dimensions of the three blocks, supports an understanding of contractual particularities, performance monitoring mechanisms, the coexistence between CASAL and private operators, as well as the rights and obligations defined. This work contributes to the critical understanding of the concessions implemented in Alagoas and their initial effects on water supply services.