Water & Cities Workshop 'The Future of Water in Cities: Needs and Challenges'
Road to Bari - City Water Leaders Workshop
The Future of Water in Cities: Needs and Challenges
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Auditorium Botín Foundation, C/ Castelló 18 C, Madrid, Spain
Overview
Hosted by the City of Madrid in partnership with IAHR and the National Organising Committee of the 42nd IAHR World Congress, which already counts on the partnership of Acquedotto Pugliese and three Italian universities from Puglia, Sicily, and Abruzzo, and with the collaboration of the Water Observatory of the Botín Foundation, the workshop is a key preparatory milestone of the “Road to Bari” Global Framework and initiates the pathway towards a dedicated city track at the 2027 IAHR World Congress.
The workshop brings together city water leaders, experts and solution providers from around the world to discuss current and future challenges in urban water management. It provides a platform for sharing experiences, identifying the most urgent needs, and exploring practical and innovative solutions. Through peer-to-peer exchange and sector contributions, the event supports the development of globally relevant approaches. The collective inputs from participating cities will contribute towards a global ranking of the most urgent challenges to address. This will be used to inform cities, global processes, investors, funders and solution providers of the critical pathways required to ensure resilient and sustainable water for cities, their populations and environments.
Urban water challenges: Challenges in urban water management are addressed through the exchange of needs and experiences between city water leaders and water sector stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on innovation and on identifying practical, forward-looking solutions to respond to evolving water-related challenges.
Key thematic areas: Topics addressed include water supply quantity and quality, wastewater treatment, resilience to extreme events, service efficiency and financing, water reuse, within the broader context of urban population growth and climate change.
International cooperation: The participation of major cities from all five continents, together with national and international water sector organizations and companies, enables the exchange of experiences and the development of approaches with clear global relevance.
Informed policy making and integrated approaches: Issues are examined from technical, environmental, economic, and public health perspectives, considering both new and existing infrastructure, urban planning, and interventions in flood and drought-prone areas, in line with the major global processes such as the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as well as Regional and National directives.
Road to Bari - Global Framework
The Road to Bari initiative, launched at the IAHR World Congress and SIWW Singapore Spotlight in June 2025, brings together 2,000 authorities, experts, and representatives from 50 cities around “Innovative Engineering for Sustainable Development”. It provides a global platform for results-oriented exchange among experts, decision-makers, engineers, and solution providers.
Water authorities at city, basin, and national levels address evolving water challenges.
The Road to Bari framework, operates continuously, helping cities identify specific real-world needs, fostering peer-to-peer exchanges, and leveraging the expertise of thousands of global experts to tackle these challenges.
Programme
28 May 2026 | Technical Sessions
Registration (9:00 - 9:30 h)
Opening Session (9:30 - 10:00 h)
Lucia De Stefano, Deputy Director of the Water Observatory of the Botín Foundation
Juan Azcárate, Deputy Director of Energy and Climate Change of the Madrid City Council
Philippe Gourbesville, IAHR President
Orazio Giustolisi, Representative and Chair, Organising Committee of the 42nd IAHR World Congress Bari (Italy)
Morning Session - City Water Leaders (10:00 - 14:30 h)
Welcome and introduction: Philippe Gourbesville
Moderator: Tom Soo
This session is a closed event dedicated to invited city water leaders to raise and discuss the water issues of highest priority, and exchange experiences on solutions, innovation and policy and regulatory frameworks. The collective output will contribute to a ranking of the world's most important urban water issues that require urgent global and local attention.
10:00 - 11:00
Cecilia Passeri, Bari City - “Water Resilience in Regional Water Service Planning in Puglia”
Juan Azcarate Luxan, Madrid City and Marta Olazabal, Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) - “Imagine Adaptation: The Potential Role of Reclaimed Water in Urban Adaptation in Madrid”
Daisuke Nohara, Kobe City - “Challenges for sustainable water and sewage systems in Japan: depopulation, ageing infrastructure, and intensifying natural disasters”
Vanessa Ramos, Porto City - “Integrated Water Management for Urban Resilience – Porto”
Denis Penouel, Paris City - “Are the challenges related to water the same in all megacities? How can we break down geographical silos?”
11:00 - 11:30 COFFEE BREAK
11:30 - 12:45
Ina Pohle, Berlin City - “Berlin & the Spree and Havel catchments: many water bodies, yet a lack of water.”
Isabel Ruiz, Granada City - “Water Management in Granada: History, Culture and Urban Challenge”
Giorgos Sachinis, Athens City - “The Future of Water in Cities: Water Supply and Sewerage Services in the Attica Region in Greece”
Makoto Hyodo, Osaka City - “Integrating Flow, Sediment, and Environmental Processes in Urban Flood Management: Beyond Flow Regulation”
Darío Mauriño Morales, Sevilla City - “EMASESA, Living Lab del sur de Europa”
Manuel Menéndez, Daquas - “Urban Water Cycle in SPAIN. Facts and figures”
12:45 - 13:45 Work in breakout groups
13:45 - 14:30 Report to the plenary and debate
14:30 - 16:00 LUNCH
Afternoon Session - Trends and solutions for a Water-Secure Future (16:00 - 18:00 h) (*)
Welcome and introduction: Philippe Gourbesville
Moderator: Lucia De Stefano
This session is an open event enabling exchange with city water leaders, leading solution providers, global experts and the latest science and innovation to contribute to those critical pathways towards a more resilient and sustainable water resources for cities, their populations and environments.
Public Management of the Urban Water Cycle
Carlos López Monllor, CEDEX - “New Urban Wastewater Directive. Wastewater treatment plant perspective”
Jaime Flores, Deputy Director R&D and Antonio Lastra, Head of Innovation Development Area, Canal de Isabel II. Madrid Water Public Utility: 175 Year - “Innovation supporting urban water cycle management”
Water Resilience in Urban Planning
Almudena Barona, Associate Director, Water Business Leader. Arup - "City Water Resilience Case Studies"
Jorge Serrano Leal, Technical Director, Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte - “Closing the water loop in Madrid Nuevo Norte”
Technological Innovation
Luis Navarro Perez De Ontiveros, Director of Hydraulic Efficiency. Veolia - “Technological and operational innovation for the reduction of water losses and the preservation of water resources”
Luis Campos Román, Head Water in Cities. DHI - “The Digital Journey for Urban Water Utilities: From Data to Decisions”
17:00 - 18:00: Panel Discussion
(*) Registration form for the afternoon session (until capacity is reached)
Closing Session (18:00 - 18:15 h)
18:15 - 19:00 Drinks reception
20:00 Institutional Dinner for representatives of cities
29 May 2026 | Technical Visits
Tehnical Visits for City Representatives (9:30 - 13:30) (*)
Arroyofresno Stormwater Retention Tank
Madrid Río Project
(*) Transportation will be provided for representatives of cities wishing to participate in the visits, subject to prior registration. Participants will be required to provide their name, affiliation, and an identity document.
Water & Cities Communications Kit
Organisers
Supporting Organisations
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