GOVAQUA: help identify innovative water governance practices

The annual Europe-INBO conference was held in Valencia, Spain, on 18 October 2023. The conference hosted a workshop dedicated to innovations in water governance by a group of three Horizon Europe projects.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to learn about the innovative water governance practices identified so far by the three projects and to provide feedback.

Europe has a wealth of good practice in water governance and one of the aims of the workshop was to bring together examples of this. Innovation in water governance can be seen as an evolving practice that embraces new solutions, not yet widely applied, that could pave the way for more adaptive and resilient water management.

Innovations in water governance may include, for example, stakeholder participation, digital tools, economic instruments or the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach, which highlights the interdependence of water, energy, food security and ecosystems. During the workshop, case studies from the three research projects provided a tangible link to the issues addressed, while an interactive working session encouraged lively debate and brainstorming among participants.

SPANISH CASE STUDIES

• The RetouchNexus project focuses on sustainable water management in the face of challenges such as climate change, water allocation conflicts and ecological concerns, particularly for the Albufera wetland. Agriculture dominates water use (80%), followed by urban (14%) and industrial (6%) needs. The water court is an interesting example of effective traditional governance: an institution that dates back to medieval times still plays a central role in water distribution today. The study highlights the need to integrate local customs and modern policies for adaptive governance, with an emphasis on stakeholder balance and resilience in the face of intensifying droughts due to climate change.
• In the Axarquía region, the GOVAQUA project is using the DPSIR framework to analyse water governance, focusing on economic analysis and environmental impacts as part of the Water Framework Directive analytical framework. The main challenges in the region include excessive exploitation of groundwater and seasonal fluctuations in demand, leading to innovative responses such as management and cost recovery for reused water and the future integration of desalination. The Living Lab process organised by GOVAQUA gives priority to improving wastewater quality, managing water allocation and improving the monitoring of groundwater resources. Innovative new governance practices include pricing mechanisms, investment in advanced treatment, allocation planning, groundwater monitoring and extraction policy, and stakeholder engagement to promote water use efficiency and mitigate crisis conditions caused by water scarcity and high demand.

THE EURO-RIOB WORKSHOP

The workshop brought together 70 experts and specialists working on river basin management and the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, its daughter directives and other related regulations. The WaterGovernance 2027 Synergy Group will continue to organise workshops at future EUROPE-INBO conferences to share its findings and explore the subject further.