Strategic lines
The scientific program of the Institute is based on the development of four main strategic lines for the integrated water management.
Sustainable Management of Water Bodies
Hydrogeology
- Hydrogeological modelling
- Quality and pollution of groundwater
- Aquifer recharge
- Water and mining
Acuatic ecosystems
- Ecotoxicology
- Biological indicators
- Cyanobacteria
Hydraulic heritage
Extreme events
Water and landscape
Quality and pollution
- Chemical and biological quality objectives
- Unconventional analytical methods
- Emerging chemical and biological contaminants
Water Treatment and Water Reuse
Three main fields of action are considered in terms of water treatment and water reuse research activities: drinking water, urban and industrial wastewater treatment and reclaimed water reuse.
Drinking Water
- Treatment Technologies. Desalination
- Detection and removal of micropollutants
Urban and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
- Biological and physical-chemical processes
- Membrane technology
- Advanced treatment processes
Reclaimed Water
- Nature-based solutions

Economic and institutional analysis
Analysis of the design and implementation of economic policy instruments for sustainable water management
- Individual & collective economic behaviour in relation to water
- Economic policy instruments-EPIs (pricing mechanisms, markets of tradable permits, risk-management schemes and cooperation-based mechanisms)
Integrated water resources management: economic dimensions
- Environmental & natural resources economics
- Climate change adaptation (CCA) and Disaster risk reduction (DRR)
- Nexus approach (water-energy-food-biodiversity-climate)
- Hydro-economic modelling & analysis & prioritisation of water investments.
- Regulatory impact assessment (RIA) and links between environmental policy & macroeconomic performance
- Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), Cost-recovery analysis, New decision-making theories
- Integrated assessment frameworks (i.e. social-ecological modelling) and economic valuation of ecosystem services