University of Valencia

Academic, scientific or professional interest: One of the biggest challenges of any society is the proper management and conservation of water resources. Water is a limited resource, and it is essential for the development of human life. At present, much of the world's population lives in regions with severe water shortages. The problem of water shortage is getting worse because of climate change, especially in arid regions such as the Mediterranean, where the increasing accumulation of population coupled with low rainfall, which is also irregularly distributed in time, is causing the depletion or the deterioration of water resources that will be hard to reverse. Given this situation, it is essential to manage water resources efficiently, based on scientific and technical criteria, ensuring an adequate supply of both quantity and quality and protecting existing water resources. This context requires viable answers both from the economic and environmental point of view to ensure the sustainability and quality of life of citizens in the present and in the future. Meeting a growing demand for water resources, preventing the degradation of ecosystems, is a challenge that must be addressed in a realistic and effective way. In this sense, the contribution of the economy in the design and implementation of effective policies for the management of water resources is an increasingly recognised need, as set out in the Water Framework Directive. Knowledge of the instruments for managing water resources is therefore the key to carry out proper territorial planning. The need for researchers and professionals in the field is therefore a reality that today's society is forced to face. This Master’s aims to train researchers and professionals in the field of water resources management, capable of being active in both private companies and public bodies.