The integrated management of water resources is based on the following guidelines: > efficient use of water resources and protection of water quality in production processes; > treatment of waste waters and their minimization and control of losses; > management of the flow rates of rivers with specific pro grams to guarantee the volumes necessary to preserve the underlying ecosystem (minimum flows); > integrated management of water basins, through meas urement of the water quality and the application, where necessary, of corrective measures to improve the physi cal and environmental conditions of basins, at the same time safeguarding the various local uses which meet the specific needs of the local area where the plant is located.