A
ADUTORA / WATER MAIN
Pipelines designed to connect raw water sources to water treatment plants located beyond the vicinity of those sources, or to connect treatment plants located near the sources to distant reservoirs that supply the distribution networks.
AFLUENTE / TRIBUTARY
A stream that flows into a larger stream, lake, or reservoir.
ÁGUA BRUTA / RAW WATER
Water in its natural state as found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, or aquifers, before undergoing any treatment process.
ÁGUAS DE DOMÍNIO ESTADUAL / STATE-OWNED WATERS
Waters under state jurisdiction include surface waters that originate and flow entirely within a single state (discharging into the sea or as a tributary of a federal river), as well as all groundwater within that state.
ÁGUAS DE DOMÍNIO FEDERAL / FEDERALLY-OWNED WATERS
Waters under federal jurisdiction include rivers (surface waters) that cross more than one state and/or form borders between states or countries, as well as waters stored in reservoirs resulting from federal works.
ÁGUA SALOBRA / BRACKISH WATER
Water containing high concentrations of salts or other substances, making it unsuitable for consumption.
ÁGUA SERVIDA / WASTEWATER
Water discharged from households or industries containing waste and residues that enters the sewage system.
ÁGUAS SUBTERRÂNEAS / GROUNDWATER
Water that infiltrates the soil and percolates by gravity into deeper layers of the subsoil, reaching the saturation zone and forming groundwater reservoirs (aquifers) that can be extracted and used.
ÁGUA DE REUSO / REUSED WATER
Water that has been treated and used more than once for other purposes.
ANA / NATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION AGENCY (ANA)
The Agência Nacional de Águas, a federal regulatory agency under the Ministry of the Environment, created by Federal Law No. 9,984 of July 17, 2000. It is responsible for implementing the National Water Resources Policy and coordinating the National Water Resources Management System.
B
BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA / WATERSHED OR RIVER BASIN
A topographically defined area (divided from other basins) where all rainfall drains into a single watercourse (main river) or a connected system of tributaries, discharging through one outlet at the lowest point of the basin.
BAIXA PRESSÃO / LOW PRESSURE
Insufficient pressure in the water supply network to reach elevated areas.
BIODIVERSIDADE / BIODIVERSITY
The variety of animal, plant, fungal, and microorganism species within a given ecosystem.
BIOMA / BIOME
A community of living organisms (flora and fauna) that occupies a specific region with distinct environmental conditions.
C
CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) / TAXA DE CRESCIMENTO ANUAL COMPOSTA
A financial metric that measures the average annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period, assuming compound returns. It represents the smoothed annual rate of return over a given time horizon.
CANALIZAÇÃO / CHANNELIZATION
Any work or intervention aimed at giving watercourses, or parts of them, a defined cross-sectional shape, with or without lining on the banks or bed.
CAPTAÇÃO DE ÁGUA / WATER INTAKE
A set of structures and devices built or installed near a water source to supply a public water system for human consumption.
CATEGORIA DE USO / CONSUMER CATEGORY
Classification of customers by consumption unit, used to determine tariff structures. It includes four categories: Residential: For housing purposes only; Commercial: For activities not classified as residential, industrial, or public; Industrial: For activities classified as industrial by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE); Public: For activities carried out by public entities or their agencies and foundations.
COBRANÇA PELO USO DOS RECURSOS HÍDRICOS / WATER USE CHARGES
A management instrument aimed at balancing water supply and demand, promoting harmony among competing users, redistributing social costs, improving the quality of discharged effluents, and generating financial resources for sector projects and programs.
CONTRATO DE CONCESSÃO / CONCESSION AGREEMENT
Contracts signed with municipalities for the provision of water supply and/or wastewater collection and treatment services.
CONTRATO DE PROGRAMA / PROGRAM AGREEMENT
A formal agreement regulating obligations between entities of the Federation (including indirect administration bodies) or between such entities and public consortia for the joint provision of public services under cooperative arrangements.
COVENANT / COVENANT
A legal restriction imposed in bond or loan agreements that limits the borrower’s activities to ensure greater security for the lender.
CRÉDITOS TRIBUTÁRIOS / TAX CREDITS
Credits calculated under the non-cumulative system for COFINS and PIS/PASEP contributions, generated by applying contribution rates to expenses such as electricity, third-party services, rentals, depreciation, and materials purchased, as a means to offset taxes embedded in the cost of goods and services acquired by a company.
CUSTOS E DESPESAS OPERACIONAIS TOTAIS / TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES
Sum of Service Costs + Administrative Expenses + Commercial Expenses + Other Operating Expenses.
D
DESSALINIZAÇÃO / DESALINATION
The process of removing salts and other minerals from saline or brackish water to make it suitable for human consumption or industrial use.
DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE ÁGUA / WATER DISTRIBUTION
The process of delivering treated water through a system of pipes, pumps, and reservoirs to consumers in urban or rural areas.
DRENAGEM / DRAINAGE
The process or system designed to collect and remove excess surface or subsurface water from a specific area, usually to prevent flooding or waterlogging.
E
EFLUENTE / EFFLUENT
Liquid waste discharged from residential, commercial, or industrial sources into the environment or treatment systems.
EMISSÕES / EMISSIONS
The release of gases or particles into the atmosphere, particularly those contributing to air pollution or climate change.
ENERGIA HIDRÁULICA / HYDRAULIC ENERGY
Energy generated from the movement or flow of water, typically used in hydroelectric power generation.
ENTUPIMENTO / BLOCKAGE
Obstruction within pipes, channels, or sewers that restricts the normal flow of water or wastewater.
ESGOTAMENTO SANITÁRIO / SEWAGE SYSTEM OR SANITATION SERVICES
A set of activities, infrastructure, and facilities aimed at collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of wastewater safely and efficiently.
ESTAÇÃO DE TRATAMENTO DE ÁGUA (ETA) / WATER TREATMENT PLANT (WTP)
Facility where raw water undergoes physical, chemical, and biological processes to become potable.
ESTAÇÃO DE TRATAMENTO DE ESGOTO (ETE) / WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP)
Facility where wastewater is treated to remove pollutants before being discharged into the environment.
F
FLUORETAÇÃO / FLUORIDATION
The controlled addition of fluoride to the public water supply to prevent dental cavities in the population.
FUNDO DE INVESTIMENTO EM PARTICIPAÇÕES (FIP) / PRIVATE EQUITY FUND
An investment fund that acquires equity interests in companies with the objective of participating in their management and adding value to the business.
G
GESTÃO DE RECURSOS HÍDRICOS / WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
The integrated planning, development, distribution, and monitoring of water resources to ensure sustainable use.
GOVERNANÇA CORPORATIVA / CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The system by which companies are directed, controlled, and held accountable, ensuring transparency, fairness, and responsibility in management.
GRADIENTE HIDRÁULICO / HYDRAULIC GRADIENT
The slope of the water surface or the energy line in a flowing system, representing the loss of hydraulic head per unit of distance.
I
ÍNDICE DE PERDAS / WATER LOSS INDEX
Indicator that measures the difference between the total volume of water produced and the volume effectively billed, considering physical and commercial losses.
INFILTRAÇÃO / INFILTRATION
The process by which water penetrates the soil surface and percolates through its layers.
INFRAESTRUTURA HÍDRICA / WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
The set of physical structures such as pipelines, reservoirs, pumps, and treatment plants used to manage water supply and sanitation.
INTERCEPTOR / INTERCEPTOR SEWER
A large-diameter pipe that collects wastewater from smaller sewers and conveys it to a treatment plant.
L
LICENÇA AMBIENTAL / ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSE
An official authorization granted by environmental agencies allowing the construction and operation of projects that may affect the environment, subject to specific conditions and controls.
LIGAÇÃO CLANDESTINA / ILLEGAL CONNECTION
Unauthorized connection to water or sewage networks, often resulting in loss of revenue and operational inefficiencies.
LIXIVIAÇÃO / LEACHING
The process by which soluble substances are washed out from the soil or waste materials by percolating water.
M
MANANCIAL / WATER SOURCE
A natural or artificial source of water used for human consumption, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater.
MICROMEDIDOR / WATER METER
A device installed to measure the volume of water consumed by a user or property.
META DE UNIVERSALIZAÇÃO / UNIVERSAL ACCESS GOAL
Objective established by public policy to ensure that 99% of the population has access to potable water and 90% to sewage collection and treatment services.
P
PADRÃO DE POTABILIDADE / DRINKING WATER STANDARD
Set of physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters that define water quality suitable for human consumption.
PEÇAS E EQUIPAMENTOS HIDRÁULICOS / HYDRAULIC PARTS AND EQUIPMENT
Devices used in water and sewage systems such as valves, pumps, meters, and pipes.
PERDAS DE ÁGUA / WATER LOSSES
Volume of water that is produced but not billed due to leaks, theft, or measurement errors.
PLANETA ÁGUA / WATER PLANET
Expression used to highlight the abundance and importance of water on Earth, which covers approximately 70% of the planet’s surface.
POÇO / WELL
A deep hole drilled or dug to access groundwater for extraction and use.
POLÍTICA NACIONAL DE RECURSOS HÍDRICOS / NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES POLICY
Public policy that regulates the management, use, and protection of Brazil’s water resources, as established by Law No. 9,433/1997.
PRESSÃO / PRESSURE
Force exerted by water within pipes, usually measured in meters of water column or pascals.
PROGRAMA DE CONCESSÃO / CONCESSION PROGRAM
Government initiative that grants private entities the right to operate public services under specific performance and investment obligations.
R
REDE DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO / DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
System of interconnected pipelines that delivers treated water to consumers.
REDE COLETORA / SEWER NETWORK
System of pipelines and structures designed to collect and convey sewage to treatment plants.
RECURSOS HÍDRICOS / WATER RESOURCES
All available surface and groundwater resources used for human, industrial, agricultural, and environmental purposes.
REUSO DE ÁGUA / WATER REUSE
The practice of using treated wastewater for purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, or urban cleaning.
RESERVATÓRIO / RESERVOIR
A natural or artificial structure designed to store water for supply, irrigation, or energy generation.
S
SANEAMENTO BÁSICO / BASIC SANITATION
The set of services, infrastructure, and facilities related to water supply, sewage, solid waste management, and stormwater drainage.
SEGURANÇA HÍDRICA / WATER SECURITY
The capacity to ensure sufficient quantity and quality of water for human, economic, and environmental needs.
SISTEMA DE ESGOTO / SEWERAGE SYSTEM
Infrastructure composed of pipelines, pumping stations, and treatment plants that collect and treat wastewater.
SISTEMA DE ABASTECIMENTO DE ÁGUA / WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The set of facilities, equipment, and processes that capture, treat, and distribute potable water to consumers.
SUSTENTABILIDADE / SUSTAINABILITY
The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own, balancing economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
T
TARIFA DE ÁGUA / WATER TARIFF
Price charged for the supply of water services to consumers, determined according to consumption category and volume.
TRATAMENTO DE ESGOTO / WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Processes used to remove contaminants from sewage before discharge or reuse.
TRATAMENTO DE ÁGUA / WATER TREATMENT
Physical, chemical, and biological processes applied to raw water to make it potable.
V
VALA / TRENCHh4>
Excavation in which pipelines or other infrastructure are laid underground.
VOLUME DISTRIBUÍDO / DISTRIBUTED VOLUMEh4>
Total volume of treated water delivered through the distribution network to end users.
VOLUME FATURADO / BILLED VOLUME
Total amount of water measured and billed to consumers during a given period.
.svg)
