Though the modern Spanish State was formed in the mid Fifteenth Century, historical records show that water works, statues, and the utilization of water dates back to centuries BC. As a semi-arid country, the effort to control, store and assure water supplies to cities and fields is present in numerous historical and political landmarks.

Water policy in Spain has been the focus of Spanish-speaking scholars for decades, yet a comprehensive treatment of the subject has never before been published in English. Water Policy in Spain fills this gap by providing readers with a comprehensive, detailed account of the history of water policy in Spain from the beginnings of the 20th century to the present day.

Part one presents a synopsis of the physical, economic, environmental and climatic bases of Spain, also covering corresponding political topics. Part two reviews the major constraints and opportunities that are relevant to face major water policy challenges. And part three is an in-depth account of water policy in the country.

The issues closely examined include the way in which old water laws and institutions have been able to adapt to new sentimental and institutional challenges, including the significant change in the last decade to comply with the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD). Like many semi-arid countries, climate change, drought risks and water pollution are cause for growing concerns in Spain and the country is still struggling to define a consistent and widely accepted set of policies to combat these threats. Spain’s current water policy is unique because it entails a complete tour de force with respect to what the country has been doing on water matters for centuries. As the WFD must be enforced in 27 States (representing 500 million Europeans), the lessons that can be learnt from the Spanish experience should catch the attention of water practitioners around the world.

1. Scope and objectives
Alberto Garrido and M. Ramón Llamas

Part I. The natural resource base, the environment and the economy

2. Physical and Hydrological Characteristics
Luis Martínez Cortina

3. The State of Water Ecosystems
Francisco García Novo, Julia Toja Santillana and Carlos Granado Lorencio

4. Major Processes Degrading Freshwater Resources and Ecosystems
Guido Schmidt and Lucia De Stefano

5. Water Uses in Transition
Josefina Maestu and Carlos Mario Gómez

6. Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade in Spain
M.M. Aldaya, A. Garrido, M.R. Llamas, C. Varela-Ortega, P. Novo & R. Rodríguez Casado

Part II. Constraints, opportunities and social perceptions

7. Drought and Climate Risks
Ana Iglesias, Marta Moneo, Luis Garrote and Francisco Flores

8. Water Supply in Urban Areas
Enrique Cabrera, Enrique Cabrera Rochera and Ricardo Cobacho

9. Changing Water Discourses in a Modern Society
Leandro del Moral

Part III. Water Law, Institutions and Policies

10. Water Sector Regulation and Liberalisation
Gaspar Ariño Ortiz and Mónica Sastre

11. The Foundations and principles of Modern Water Law
Antonio Embid Irujo

12. Institutions and Institutional Reform in the Spanish Water Sector: a Historical Perspective
Consuelo Varela Ortega and Nuria Hernández-Mora

13. Trends in Water Pricing and Markets
Alberto Garrido and Javier Calatrava

14. Issues Related to Intensive Groundwater Use
M. Ramón Llamas and Pedro Martínez-Santos

15. Making Groundwater Institutionally Visible
Elena Lopez-Gunn

16. Facing the Challenges of Implementing the European Water Directive to Spain
Manuel Menéndez Prieto

17. Public Participation in Developing and Improving Water Governance
Ana Barreira

18 The Spanish and Portuguese Cooperation over their Transboundary Basins
A. Garrido, A. Barreira, S. Dinar & E. Luque

19. The End of Large-Scale Water Projects
Pedro Arrojo Agudo

Part IV. Conclusions

20. Meeting Future Water Challenges: Spain’s Strengths and Weaknesses
M. Ramón Llamas and Alberto Garrido