Protector-receiver and polluter-pays principles as incentive instruments to reduce residential water consumption in the city of Curitiba (Paraná, Brazil)

ABSTRACT Problems related to water supply have been widely discussed worldwide. These difficulties occur for many reasons, for example, as a result of the urbanization process, the inappropriate management of water resources and the inadequate supply system infrastructure. Therefore, this study aimed, through the appointment of applications of the protector-receiver and user-polluter-pays principles, and the checking of the efficiency of collection of fees on water consumption system, to identify the ways of action of these principles in reducing residential water consumption in the city of Curitiba. For this, it was necessary to establish the relationship between the charge and the residential consumption of water through the analysis of indicators of consumption and population income. The applications of the protector-receiver principle in water resources management have been identified, and the grounds of the user-polluter-pays principle were investigated, since this principle supports the collection of public water supply services.