Cobrança pelo uso da água em sistemas de bacias hidrográficas: o caso da bacia do rio Pirapama em Pernambuco

Resumen

This paper examines some theoretical and methodological aspects of charging for utilization of water resources in river basin systems, one of the main instruments of water resources management. The charging wasjustified as a mechanism ofracionalization ofthe use of these resources and to correct the externalities on consumption and production, internalizing the true social costs into the private costs. This paper presents and adopts an alternative methodological framework ofprice formation for water use, based on the economic theory ofthe second best. The optimal prices policy implies an efficient allocation of water resources in the economy. It is so because the diference between social benefits and costs is maximized, and the negative effects on the economy are minimized. The Pirapama river basin was taken to be studied because it is the main source of bulk water capable to solve the big and constant problems ofrationing of water supply in the Metropolitan Region of Recife.