Public water supply, wastewater management and waste management services are essential to the well-being of citizens, public health and economic activities. Since these services are usually provided under a natural or legal monopoly regime, there is no incentive for service providers to seek greater efficiency and effectiveness, hence increasing the risks of their prevalence vis-à-vis consumers. For these reasons, societies benefit from regulatory intervention capable of introducing greater balance in the relationship between providers and their consumers.
One of the main goals of regulation is the protection of consumers’ interests, by promoting the quality of service provided by operators, as well as the maintenance of affordable tariffs safeguarding the necessary balance towards the economic and financial sustainability of the service providers.
Scope of regulation
ERSAR has two distinct, although complementary duties:
- Regulation of the drinking water supply services, urban wastewater management services and municipal waste management services;
- National authority for drinking water quality.