Citizen participation in public hearings on basic sanitation

This study characterizes and discusses the social control of basic sanitation services, in particular a case study of the public hearings held by ARSESP - the São Paulo State Energy and Sanitation Regulatory Agency, in order to analyze whether the formal procedures established by the regulatory body provide effective democratic participation. Indeed, the work also aims to present the economic and social benefits of public basic sanitation services, demonstrating that the effectiveness of the service has an impact on health, productivity at work, school performance and the economy.