Challenges of Urban Water Cycle Management in Small Spanish Municipalities: The Case of the Province of Granada

Abstract

Urban water service management in Spain presents two very distinct realities: populated service areas and small population centres. Despite the professionalised management of resources to provide a comprehensive, high-quality service in the largest service areas, small population centres face significant deficits and shortcomings that pose a major challenge for the Spanish public administration. This article reviews the existing problems surrounding the management of urban water cycle services in small-population municipalities in the province of Granada. This case study describes a reality that can be extrapolated to a significant number of small municipalities in the rest of Spain, where the management of urban water cycle services is directly assumed by City Councils. Having reviewed the problems, the article concludes with a series of recommendations for improving urban water cycle management in small municipalities. The conclusions emphasise the study and creation of optimal service areas, as well as the creation of an independent regulatory body.