Conference Summary Presentations

On 8 April 2025, IAHR and Spain Water held the conference The Future of Water Infrastructure in Spain and the World at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge in Madrid. The event brought together 474 participants, both online and in person, to explore the evolving landscape of water infrastructure across various regions — from Spain and France to Morocco and Australia.

The conference featured illustrative cases and expert discussions on pressing topics such as:

• Hydraulic works in Spain: their purpose and future needs

• Digital Intelligence Empowering National Water Network: Innovative Practices for Water Security

• Some considerations on the present and future of physical and numerical modelling of large hydraulic infrastructures

• Water that Unites - a new Portuguese National Water Strategy

• Water infrastructure in a continent of extremes – insights from Australia

• Reservoirs: Key infrastructures in the energy transition

• Challenges of the Water Sector in Spain

• The future of hydroelectric infrastructures with a focus on France

• Water Resource Management: Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

The conference provided a unique opportunity for water professionals, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange knowledge and perspectives on the challenges and innovations shaping the future of water infrastructure. The insights shared will continue to inform IAHR’s ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient water management worldwide.