Urban Water Management: Investment Deficit
An honest and transparent discussion on water tariffs, political dynamics, funding, and the public-private sector approach. A special focus on the Young Water Professionals Andalucía Kick-Off!
Water—what a complex industry.
Do you know how many surface-level conversations and speeches we witness in our business?
A lot.
And how difficult is it to align the interests of different stakeholders?
Incredibly difficult.
This episode feels like a breath of fresh air because it addresses the real challenges and the true state of the water sector—with a genuine commitment to preserving and managing water fairly for future generations.
This is what should be on the table. But that’s not the reality.
Politicians often use water as a political weapon—mostly yes. However, we now have examples of those swimming against the current, fighting for water to create impact not only regionally and nationally, but also internationally. (Details will come later in 2025—a really big surprise!)
From a political standpoint, investing in water isn’t visible—it’s far easier to invest in a garden, new real estate, or other high-profile projects.
On top of that, people don’t truly value water.
Why?
First, because it represents less than 1% of their monthly income.
And second, because most don’t experience water issues regularly—only when disaster strikes.
We are grateful for the presence of Jesús Maza, president of Spain’s Urban Water Management Association (AGA and AEAS).
Spain is a global reference in urban water management, with a system successfully implemented years ago and well maintained.
But now, it faces the challenge of a lifetime.
Spain is entering a replacement era—not a construction boom like 25 years ago.
There’s no large-scale new development; instead, we need renovation and replacement.
It’s a completely different mindset.
Jesús, the former managing director of Emasesa (the public water entity of Seville, my home city), is one of the decision-makers we need more of—leaders who bring common sense to the table.
He stands out because he’s working to do things the right way, with no hidden agenda, and with two critical messages:
1️⃣ Remove water from political debates and recognize it as a national common interest.
2️⃣ Talk more about economics. Upgrading wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to meet new European directives is necessary—but how do we fund it? Who pays for it?
The price of 1 liter of water is just 5 cents. That’s insane. Really?
The current water tariff isn’t even covering the basic requirements for a sustainable water supply and sanitation system. It’s that simple.
Unfortunately, the impact of this underfunding isn’t immediate—it doesn’t switch on or off overnight.
Instead, it slowly takes its toll, day after day. We’ll see increasing leakages, higher non-revenue water, more fines…
Who or what institutions are the barriers? The problem is so complex, with so many stakeholders involved, that it’s impossible to pinpoint a single source of responsibility.
I’m sure you’ll love this discussion—it will challenge your thinking and spark important reflections.
How is all this knowledge and experience shared with others?
Not many people know that there is an International School of Public Services in Spain (Escuela Internacional de Servicios Públicos). I’ll explore this further in the near future.
Spanish Urban Water Supply & Sanitation Dashboard
AGA and AEAS produce high-quality documentation for public consultation.
Here, we present an impressive dashboard that perfectly summarizes key aspects of urban water management.
Take a moment to absorb the information and keep a few figures in mind.
Then, go out and discuss it with your friends and peers – you'll be surprised at how little some of our colleagues know about this topic.
If even water professionals struggle to fully grasp the complexities of our national water management, how can we expect the general public and politicians to understand why they need to pay more to ensure sustainable water management?
The Power of Spanish Professionals
I'm a proud Spaniard, and I’m well aware of the incredible talent and expertise of our water professionals.
A few years ago, the International Water Association (IWA) launched Young Water Professionals (YWP). In Spain, the initiative was spearheaded by AGA and AEAS (our guest today).
If you remember, Episode #4 of The Water MBA took a deep dive into the story behind the scenes.
The movement started strong in Madrid, Bilbao, and Valencia.
And now I have an exciting opportunity to help kickstart the community in Andalucía—a region with some of the most diverse water challenges, along with the Mediterranean.
Last Thursday in Seville, we gathered for a fireside chat and realized we’ve built something special—a truly dynamic group mixing experience from both public and private sectors, professionals from business development, global engineering firms, and operators, covering areas like desalination, water networks, wastewater treatment, and hydraulic infrastructure.
I’ll keep you updated in the coming weeks e-mails, because something important is cooking right now and I’ll tell you what it is! 🍳🔥
