The integrated management of water resources is based on the following guidelines: a. efficient use of water resources and protection of water quality in produc tion processes; b. treatment of effluents and their minimization and control over losses; c. management of the flow rates of rivers with specific programs to guarantee minimum volumes, so as not to compromise the ecosystem (in this regard re search projects have been started in Italy, Spain and Latin America aimed at analyzing the effect of “hydropeaking”, in other words the changes in daily flow rates caused by intermittent inputs of water which passes through the turbines downstream from power plants); d. integrated management of water basins, through measurement of the qual ity of water and the application, where necessary, of corrective measures to improve physical and environmental conditions, and the safeguarding of the social and economic needs of the local area where the plant is located.