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 effluents and their minimization also throu gh control of losses; > management of releases from hydroelectric power plants through specific programs to guarantee the volumes ne cessary to preserve the ecological state of rivers (mini mum flows); > integrated management of water basins to preserve the multiple uses of the local area and the water quality.