Working Visit to Spain - Water Alliance

Water Reuse in Spain – Knowledge, Policy and Practice

Work Visit Spain | 1–4 December 2026 | Valencia & Madrid

In Spain, circular water use is an essential part of the water supply. Due to water scarcity and drought, the country has built up extensive experience in reusing water in agriculture, industry and urban applications. What lessons can we learn from this in the Netherlands? What challenges are being faced, how are these being addressed in Spain and the Netherlands, and how can mutual experience, knowledge and innovative water technology solutions complement and strengthen each other?

Save the date

From 1 to 4 December 2026, Water Alliance, KNW, Vitens and Water Authority Zuiderzeeland, with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid, are organising a working visit to Valencia and Madrid.

We aim to bring together a diverse Dutch group of participants from water authorities, drinking water companies, water technology companies, knowledge institutions and other relevant organisations. The combination of policy, practice and innovative technology should generate new insights and contribute to further Dutch-Spanish cooperation.

From policy to practice…

During the working visit, we would like to address questions such as:

What quality requirements apply to reused water in agriculture and industry – and when is water “good enough” for a specific application?
What role can water reuse play in reducing groundwater abstraction?
How does Spain manage water resources, water availability and security of supply?
How do public authorities, water companies, knowledge institutions and businesses work together?
What role can water authorities play in supplying water to industry?
Which laws and regulations encourage water reuse, and where does regulation create barriers?
What financing options are available, and which financial incentives are needed to make circular water use more attractive?
How is the wider public interest of water reuse safeguarded?

Learning from Spain, working on the Netherlands

This initiative follows a roundtable meeting in Madrid, which was also attended by the Dutch International Water Envoy. The ambition goes beyond simply gaining inspiration. We want to use Spanish experience to determine what the Netherlands needs in order to further develop water reuse and move it higher up the agenda.

We are not only looking at technology, but particularly at the interaction between policy, regulation, financing, cooperation and practical implementation. The ultimate aim is to translate the knowledge gained into concrete next steps for the Netherlands.

Share your ideas!

The programme is still under development. Do you have ideas for themes, Spanish organisations, projects or practical examples that we absolutely should visit or discuss? Share your ideas and help us develop a working visit that delivers inspiration, new connections and concrete lessons for the Netherlands.

This working visit has been developed through cooperation between the Dutch water authorities, drinking water companies and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid.

The visit is organised by Water Alliance and the Royal Netherlands Water Network (KNW), partly within the framework of the WTEX10 programme, which is supported by the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W), Economic Affairs (EZK) and Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).

Preparatory webinar

Would you like to learn more about water reuse in Spain and the background to this working visit? On Wednesday 16 September 2026, from 10:30 to 12:00, we are organising an online webinar about the Spain–Netherlands Water Reuse Initiative.

During the webinar, you will hear more about developments in water reuse in Spain and across Europe, Dutch-Spanish collaboration, and the plans for the working visit in December.

More information and register for the webinar