ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the overarching policy and main programmes of the state of São Paulo in Brazil to achieve universal access to water supply and sanitation services.1 The guiding principle behind these policies is that access to these services is a fundamental human right. At the same time, sanitation is essential to safeguard environmental sustainability in the state. The chapter describes the socio-economic context and provides information on the availability of water resources and the organizational structure for managing them. It also outlines the principles, stages and institutional framework for managing water and sanitation policy. Special attention is given to the Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (State Water Utility – SABESP), which is the main organization responsible for implementing São Paulo’s water and sanitation policy. A few remarks about the learning process over recent decades are made to conclude the chapter.