La guerra del agua en la España democrática

Resumen

The purpose of this paper is to establish certain keys in order to gain a better understanding of what has been called the "water war". A review of recent Spanish history is provided in order to ascertain how discrepancies have emerged, in relation to which issues, which solutions have been offered and which interests they conceal. In the design of hydraulic policy, in addition to traditional questions such as technical problems or economic costs and their financing, over the last thirty years other matters have arisen that are proving to be decisive, such as the territorial structuring of Autonomous Regions and the growing environmental sensitivity of citizens. All of this, together with Spain's incorporation into the European Union and the mandatory transposition of its legislation, are essential to understanding the public decisions that have been adopted in Spain as regards water.