Tuesday, 17 March 2026, from 9:30 to 13:40h. CET (UTC+1). Venue: Auditorio de Zaragoza (sala Luis Galve), C/ Eduardo Ibarra nº 3, Zaragoza.

During the week of World Water Day (22 March), co-organised by the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza and the Elcano Royal Institute, with the collaboration of FACSA, the event convened policymakers and specialists to examine the long-term sustainability of the urban water cycle.

The conference explored the principles underpinning resilient water management, the strategic challenges facing urban water services, and the societal dimension of the policy debate, drawing on empirical evidence regarding citizens’ perceptions and priorities.

Hashtag: #AguaEspaña

Credits: Video produced by Zaragoza City Council and provided to the Elcano Royal Institute for publication.

Programme

09:30 Registration.

10:00 Welcome remarks:

Pilar Cortés Bureta, Councillor for Procurement and Municipal Assets, Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza.
José Claramonte, Director General, FACSA

Presentations:

10:15 Water in Spain: Citizens’ opinions, attitudes, and priorities

Sofía Tirado, Fellow, Elcano Royal Institute

10:45 Addressing the challenge of balancing urban water service tariffs. Reflections and recommendations

Pilar Cortés Bureta, Councillor for Procurement and Municipal Assets, Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza.

11:15 Guidelines for the sustainable management of urban water

Enrique Cabrera, Emeritus Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Polytechnic University of Valencia

12:15 Coffee break

12:45 Roundtable: “The future of urban water in Spain”, with the participation of the three speakers.

Moderator: Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui, Former Director of the UN World Water Decade

13:30 Closing remarks

Ángel Lorén Villa, Councillor for the Presidency, Institutional Relations and Public Safety, Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza.

Organised by:

With the collaboration of:

Image: View of the Basilica del Pilar in Zaragoza from the River Ebro. Photo: Pedro Sanz / Unsplash.