The 2nd REUSE-EuroMed International Congress has once again demonstrated the sector’s interest in and commitment to water reuse. More than 10 countries were represented. The plenary sessions and presentations generated extensive debate, which continued during the networking sessions, enriching the exchange of knowledge and experiences. The next edition will be held in Tunisia in 2028.
From 17 to 19 June 2026, Madrid hosted the II REUSE EuroMed Conference, an international event in which the I-ReWater project collaborated, focusing on water reuse, irrigation, the circular economy and the sustainable management of water resources.
The conference took place at the facilities of iHub La Vega Innova, the Centro Nacional de Tecnología de Regadíos (CENTER) and the Centro Nacional de Capacitación Agraria (CENCA), which are under the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and located in San Fernando de Henares.
Over three days, the event brought together representatives of public administrations, research centres, universities, water-sector organisations, irrigation communities and technology companies to share knowledge and experiences on the use of reclaimed water and to advance its recognition as a strategic resource for irrigation, particularly in the face of increasing water scarcity and climate change.
Participants also included representatives of leading organisations in this field, such as the President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and members of the Spanish Association of Irrigation and Drainage (AERYD).
Research, innovation and reclaimed water
The opening session took place on 17 June and was led by the Director General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-food Training. During her speech, she highlighted the commitment of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to promoting the use of reclaimed water and other non-conventional water resources in irrigation as a means of moving towards more efficient, sustainable and resilient agriculture.
On 18 June, the main scientific and technical programme took place, with sessions focusing on the I-ReWater project and the main challenges associated with reclaimed water reuse. Participants addressed issues related to its application in irrigation, the technical and regulatory framework, technological innovation, integrated water resources management and the opportunities this resource offers for advancing towards more sustainable agriculture.
The sessions also provided an opportunity to present and compare results, experiences and approaches developed in different territories, strengthening exchanges between the scientific community, public administrations and professionals involved in water management and irrigation.
Speakers included:
▪️ Dr. Marco Arcieri – President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
▪️ Pedro José Simón Andreu – Technical Director, Esamur Entidad Regional de Saneamiento y Depuración de la Región de Murcia.
▪️ Ignacio Gómez Lucena – Universidad de Córdoba.
▪️ Dr. Roula Khadra – CIHEAM Bari.
▪️ Popi Karaolia – Nireas-International Water Research Center (Nireas-IWRC) University of Cyprus / UNEP Consultant.
▪️ Magali Gerino – SOLLAGUA – Interreg Sudoe.
▪️ Amélie BRESSON – TARGET Interreg Sudoe.
▪️ Dr. Jérôme Harmand – INRAE.
▪️ Eider de la Cruz Mujika – Zubigune Fundazioa.
▪️ Dr. Javier J Cancela – PROePLA – Proxectos e Planificación (GI-1716), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
Technical visits
The conference concluded on Friday, 19 June, with several technical visits. Participants visited the Viveros de la Villa Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by Madrid City Council, and the Automatic Hydrological Information System (SAIH) of the Tagus River Basin Authority.
These visits provided participants with first-hand insight into infrastructure and systems related to wastewater treatment, hydrological information and the efficient management of water resources.
Throughout the sessions and technical visits, the delegation was accompanied by the Director of the Centro Nacional de Tecnología de Regadíos, who took part in the exchange of experiences and provided a practical perspective on the infrastructure, technologies and tools used in water management.
The II REUSE EuroMed Conference therefore provided an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and good practices and to strengthen scientific, technical and institutional cooperation around water reuse, an area of growing importance for the future of irrigation, the sustainability of agricultural activity and adaptation to climate change.
For I-ReWater, the event also represented another opportunity to transfer the knowledge generated by the project and connect its results with public administrations, researchers and stakeholders from the water and agricultural sectors.
Scientific posters
In addition, during the II REUSE EuroMed Conference 2026, the I-ReWater consortium made a significant contribution by presenting 10 of the 15 scientific posters featuring results from our research, which can be viewed here.
The 2nd REUSE EuroMed International Congress 2026 was co-organised by the I-ReWater consortium together with the Spanish Association of Irrigation and Drainage (AERYD) and PROePLA – Proxectos e Planificación (GI-1716) (Campus Terra – Universidade de Santiago de Compostela), in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and La Vega Innova.