The implementation of Brazil's new national water resources management system (Law 9.433/97) may be positively evaluated only if it promotes advances in water quality issues. Hence, environmental sectors and water services demands gain importance and no longer can be neglected in water resources planning. This paper was aimed at highlighting the importance of water quality in water resources management, as noted from the comparison of water availability, water services, social and public health indicators. It was observed that living conditions is better described by water supply and sanitation coverage than by water reserves measured quantitatively.
Water resources; water quality; water services; public health; indicators