Francesc Hernández, Head of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model: Circular Economy in the Water Sector of the Valencian Government and the Universitat de València (GVA-UV), has stated that we have a structure and a regulation on water “designed for times of abundance or, at least, for times of no shortage.” In this sense, he claimed that “we must reformulate the current water management model by introducing non-conventional resources.”

Full university professor Francesc Hernández made these statements in an interview for the Spanish TV broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) within the framework of the World Water Week conference. This is an international strategic forum where renowned experts in the field reflect on the problems of the global lack of water which was held in Stockholm between 20 and 24 August. It was entitled ‘Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World.’

“We must step out in terms of management”, emphasised Hernández. The expert considers this aim a “real challenge” in Spain, where in terms of regulation, “legislative powers are highly divided.” “A number of 8,000 municipalities equates 8,000 people responsible for water management and, in turn, there are associations of municipalities, public bodies, provincial councils, autonomous communities and the central Government, among others.” “There are so many bodies, so many institutions in charge of water management, that it is virtually impossible to reach an overall consensus on actions directly addressing the problem of climate change,” said the specialist.

The Head of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model: Circular Economy in the Water Sector of the Valencian Government and the Universitat de València (GVA-UV) also referred to the agricultural sector, which represents between 70% and 80% of water consumption in the current context of scarcity in Spain. “The very high demand for water by the agriculture in Spain makes no sense, since it is not that extensive, that irrigated, to justify this enormous use,” he said. “It is essential to modernise irrigation systems in order to reduce the impact of traditional flood irrigation,” he concluded.