Developing institutional frameworks to promote the uptake of alternative water resources at the building level
The case of the province of Barcelona
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22422460 |
|---|---|
| Authors | H March (0000-0003-2549-0803, a Estudis d'Economia i Empresa & UOC-TRÀNSIC, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla del Poblenou, 156, Barcelona 08018, Spain), David Saurı́ (0000-0002-3618-7773, b Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici B, Carrer de la Fortuna, s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-09 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Water Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1366-7017 • E-ISSN: 1996-9759 |
| Publisher | IWA Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.2166/wp.2026.127 |
| OpenAlex | W7169599168 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
Local authorities are pivotal in promoting the adoption of decentralized alternative water sources, such as greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting for domestic non-potable water uses (e.g. toilet flushing or irrigation). Focusing on the process of updating a supra-municipal (provincial) framework to promote the use of such alternative water sources at the building scale, this paper analyzes and characterizes the evolution of local water-saving ordinances in the province of Barcelona (Spain). We analyze how local regulations mandate the installation in new buildings of alternative water systems, such as greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting or pool water reuse systems. The study aims to identify key challenges and unresolved debates that policymakers face when designing and updating these regulations. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes interviews with key stakeholders, surveys with municipalities, and participatory workshops involving both local administrations and technical expertise, the research examines the institutional frameworks that support these ordinances, the barriers municipalities encounter during implementation, and the technological and health debates surrounding their implementation. Our findings highlight the importance of supra-municipal guidance in shaping local water governance amid uncertainty about regulatory enforcement thresholds, ongoing debates over appropriate technologies for greywater reuse, and ambiguity around health standards for domestic alternative water sources.
Ambiguity · Citizen journalism · Corporate governance · Enforcement · Greywater · Mandate · Rainwater harvesting · Reuse · Water resources · Urban Stormwater Management Solutions · Wastewater Treatment and Reuse · Water Governance and Infrastructure
Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions
Social perception and challenges of light greywater reuse at the household level in developing countries
Institutional challenges in water reuse and circularity
Policy sequencing for early-stage transition dynamics – A process model and comparative case study in the water sector
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |