The main challenges for their protection and management

The water framework directive (WFD) allows to set environmental homogeneous targets for the continental bodies of water of all Member States and so protect both its quality and its quantity ensuring to meet growing demand. The river basin management plans are the tools of the directive, and, having already completed the first cycle of planning (2010-2015), it is working on basin plans review and approval of plans of the second cycle.

The Spanish and Portuguese Groups of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) have organized "Spanish-Portuguese Congress on groundwater in the second cycle of WFD River Basin Management Planning" which was held at the headquarters of the Tajo Hydrographic Confederation, in Madrid. This Conference is intended to promote awareness of the role of groundwater in the hydrological planning, identifying the key challenges for the protection and management in the framework of the second planning cycle.

Congress has counted with the collaboration of numerous experts from both countries who have contributed technical papers and posters, as well as participating in roundtables environment to eight thematic areas: "Characterization of groundwater"; "Pressures and impacts in the groundwater bodies"; "Definition and determination of the chemical and quantitative status of groundwater bodies"; "Protected areas"; "Role of the groundwater management and satisfy the demands and management of drought"; "Governance"; "Actions" and "Economic aspects".

Dr. Irene de Bustamante, Deputy Director of IMDEA water, Member of the Scientific Committee of the Congress, has been involved with technical communication "Water reuse regenerated within the framework of the hydrological planning". Dr. de Bustamante stressed in his speech that the promotion of the reuse of treated wastewater is among the large strategic lines of action in the area of hydrology planning of the EU's policy. In regions with water shortages, such as Spain or Portugal, this alternative water resource may be an essential tool to achieve the objectives of the WFD.

By IMDEA Water have also participated in the Congress Dra. Virtudes Martínez, who presented his work "anti-inflammatory naproxen: sorption, degradation and treatment through reactive materials" and Adrián Pérez Barbón, support researcher, with the communication "Pilot experiments on purification and reusability by intensive land application systems". Both researchers belong to the area of reclaimed water reuse of this Institute and participate in the FILVER+ project.