Water footprint and virtual water trade in Spain

Abstract

As the most arid country in the European Union, water resources management in Spain is an issue as important as controversial. In this country, even if water resources are unevenly distributed and, in some regions drought conditions are increasing, the crisis is one of water governance rather of than physical scarcity. The estimation and analysis of the water footprint of Spain, from a hydrological, economic and ecological perspective, is very useful to facilitate an efficient allocation of water and economic resources. This analysis can provide a transparent and multidisciplinary framework for informing and optimising water policy decisions, contributing at the same time to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD). This is particularly relevant since Spain is the first country that has included the water footprint analysis into governmental policy making in the context of the WFD (Official State Gazette, 2008).