CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Argentina, and particularly the province of Santa Fe, has an important cooperative movement. Cooperatives have played a fundamental role in the provision of essential water and sanitation services in small and medium towns. Firstly, the article addresses the historical development of the cooperative movement in Argentina. Secondly, it describes the development of the management system for water and sanitation services in the province of Santa Fe, to contextualize the normative and institutional framework in which cooperatives operate. Thirdly, it provides information about the water and sanitation cooperatives in Santa Fe, looking at the services they provide, their water sources, levels of service coverage, the challenges they face, and existing public policies for the cooperative sector. A brief concluding section highlights the potential of water and sanitation cooperatives in contributing towards the solution of the problems affecting these services.