Management of water and energy losses in Embasa water supply systems: a study of factors involved in RMS

In Brazil, water supply systems still present water losses and low energy efficiency. The study aimed to analyze the factors that have influenced the effectiveness of the management of water losses and energy supply systems operated by Empresa Baiana de Aguas e Saneamento (Embasa) in metropolitan region of Salvador (RMS). The research and the evaluation of the data allowed us to verify the behavior of the indicators and the results of the implemented programs. The data showed that, despite the programs, water losses remained high, and the energy efficiency actions were more effective. The implemented programs were timely, targeted primarily for technical and operational actions, lacking a more strategic planning for the company. The study concluded that the success of the actions for the efficient use of water and energy necessarily requires the overcoming of partial and focused approaches to technical and operational dimension and to incorporate the notion of complexity, intersectoral and integrated character.