This article presents an analysis of recent experiences with new arrangements of an institutional nature, with a view to properly dealing with the environmental management. The study considers the problem in all of its connected aspects and examines both possibilities and difficulties of cooperation between administrative units politically independent. There is also a brief historical information on the management of water and sewage services in Brazil. It is also discussed the public character of our environmental inheritance, as well as the public appropriation of the physical space, environmental management being defined as a way of management of conflicts. It also deals particularly with two new institutional arrangements: the committees for hidrographic basins and intermunicipal association of interests in environmental matters, stressing their challenges and possibilities.Análise de experiências recentes de novos arranjos institucionais para equacionamento da gestão ambiental. Breve histórico da gestão dos serviços de água e esgoto no Brasil. Definição da gestão ambiental como gestão de conflitos. Comitês de bacia hidrográfica e consórcios intermunicipais.