Needs and barriers in technical regulations and standards for the efficient use of water: situation in Portugal and Brazil

Appropriate legislation, technical regulations and standards are essential to put into practice water-efficient technologies, procedures and products, both to promote the implementation and to avoid eventual barriers in the application of the adequate measures. In Portugal as in Brazil, efficient use of water and the reduction of water waste are important environmental goals. In the former, the National Program for the Efficient Use of Water for the urban, agricultural and industrial sectors is the base document for this purpose. In the latter, the National Program to Prevent the Waste of Water, for the urban sector, has been in action since 1997.

The purpose of the paper is to present a brief overview of the current situation in terms of regulations and standards, highlighting the needs and some barriers, having as reference the situation in Portugal and Brazil, and the measures intended to be applied in the respective programs.