Albatera Hosts the IV National Water Congress Focused on Water, Energy, and the Environment
In mid-September, Albatera will host the IV National Water Congress, an event led by the Diputación de Alicante and the University of Alicante in partnership with the local City Council. The edition centers on water, energy, and the environment, examining how planning, management, and socioeconomic and legal factors intersect to shape resource stewardship.
Anna Serna Mayor, the second vice president of the Water Cycle and a representative of Albatera, along with Joaquin Melgarejo, director of the UA Institute of Water and Environmental Sciences and chair of the Organizing Committee, outlined the program. The congress will explore water challenges from multiple angles, including spatial planning, governance, and environmental impact, with contributions from scholars and practitioners across the country.
Serna highlighted that the energy crisis is a key theme, particularly its effects on water resource management. The discussion will feature contributions from the Water Technologies Unit at the Diputación, including Miguel Fernández Mejuto, who spoke about how energy costs interact with water systems and the environment.
Five pillars guide this year’s congress: water, energy, environment, technology, and sustainability. More than 47 presentations by leading national experts will illuminate these topics, complemented by over 40 communications and around fifty talks. Attendance has already surpassed 200 registrants, reflecting strong interest from professionals and researchers alike.
During the program, Melgarejo noted that energy costs influence the water cycle and stressed the potential of photovoltaic energy and reservoirs as energy storage solutions. The discussions will consider how reservoirs can function as energy captors within a circular economy framework, linking water management to broader climate and economic goals.
Sessions will also address climate change, aquifer overuse, productivity, sustainability transfers, and sustainable desalination—topics critical to ensuring resilient water systems. The event will feature more than 40 papers and dozens of presentations that showcase cutting-edge ideas and field-tested practices.
About the congress: the event will be broadcast to reach a wider audience, with in-person attendance complemented by online access. The program is open to the public, with registration remaining available through the first week of September.
On the policy side, organizers will present insights with the goal of improving hydrological planning across regions. The event includes a focus on real-time assessments of water management needs and the role of ecological flows in regional planning, inviting reflections on how policy choices affect ecological and economic outcomes.
As regional leaders engage with national and international experts, the congress aims to generate practical recommendations for hydrological planning that support sustainable development. The discussions also consider governance structures, technical criteria, and the balance between population growth, ecological considerations, and infrastructure needs. The overarching aim is to provide a clear, evidence-based picture of current realities and future opportunities in water policy and management.
The event offers free access for spectators both on-site and online, with registration open through the early part of September. Attendees will have the chance to engage with researchers and practitioners, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative paths for advancing water security, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
Note: all program materials and discussions are presented with marked citations and attribution to the contributing institutions and speakers, ensuring transparency and clarity about the sources and methods informing the congress discourse.