The management and technologies of basic sanitation in Brazil face challenges, above all due to disorganised growth, water crises and impacts on human and environmental health. Evaluating the combination of universal access to basic sanitation and the reality found in the subnormal settlements of the municipality of Teresópolis-RJ, through an in situ diagnosis, can contribute to broadening the debate on building a new path, breaking down privileges and social empowerment, building not only social indicators and vulnerabilities.