Águas do Rio accused of charging water meter installation fees in Maricá

The water utility company Águas do Rio is facing accusations regarding the charging of water meter installation fees to a resident in Maricá. The charges, which appeared in installments on bills between March and June of this year, are being contested on the grounds that state legislation requires concessionaires to assume the costs of installing or transferring meters.

According to State Law No. 4.901/2006 and precedent from the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice (TJRJ), water and sewage companies are responsible for the costs associated with installing consumption measurement devices. Procon-RJ has also cited this legal understanding. In response, Águas do Rio argued that federal legislation requires properties in areas with available public networks to connect to the system, which involves costs for the connection and installation.

The dispute occurs as Maricá expands its public water supply network, transitioning residents from artesian wells to the public system. Recent TJRJ rulings have specified that properties served by the public network cannot simultaneously use other water sources, such as wells.