Challenges on European Irrigation Governance: From Alternative Water Resources to Key Stakeholders’ Involvement

Europe’s freshwater resources are under increasing stress in several regions, with a mismatch between demand for, and availability of, water resources across both temporal and geographical (spatial) scales. Human pressures have encouraged more active consideration of alternative water sources as a strategic option to supplement water supplies and protect natural resources. Recognition of the potential role of water reuse in such a strategy is now well embedded within both European and national policy communities. However, a lack of governance in decision-making processes focused on the benefits of using alternative water resources can motivate frustration to farmers and the public. In order to address this gap, the provision of water governance tools, strategies and policies are key issues than simply finding technical (or technocratic) solutions for matching, in space and time, and in quantity and quality, water demands and (alternative) water sources. The promotion of Constructed Wetlands (CWs) and Alternative Water Exchange Consortiums (AWECs) can be positive to ensure irrigation governance in the Anthropocene.