Data to D3.3 - Institutional arrangements of water supply, distribution and uses within and across case studies -identifying the barriers and drivers in place

The transition towards a water circular economy (WCE) in the sense of water reuse may generate new water loops with additional challenges to water governance such as new and different types or qualities of water, new associated risks, new responsibilities,and new sets of actors involved. These challenges demand for clear-defined responsibilities, well-engaging of the various stakeholders, strong cooperation, and coordination among actors to prevent risks. Institutional arrangements, build the formal, and informal, design schemes to ensure adequate procedures and standards to better catalyse such transition. This deliverable analyses the institutional arrangements associated to the water management on the demosites, to assess their preparedness for the implementation of the new water loops as those foreseen with use of Project Ô new technologies. Using the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework, the analysis showed that the more water uses and users a new water loop involves the more critical the institutional arrangements become. Nevertheless, the institutional arrangements of the demosites do not always configure severe barriers. This is the case of Omis (Croatia) where the water reuse loop is located inside a textile company, and Eilat (Israel) where the water reuse loop is located inside amariculture centre. On the contrary, on Almendralejo (Spain) and Lecce (Italy), there are different players involved in the management ofthe water loop,andinstitutional arrangements appear more critical. Among the different institutional design principles, the clearly defined boundaries of responsibilities among stakeholders, the congruence between appropriation and provision rules and local conditions, raise more concerns on the case studies and call for the attention of future research on water circular economy. Fairly share of cost, benefits, and risks, dedicated graduated sanctions, conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms also deserve particular attention given the limited awareness of stakeholders of their features and influence for a successful implementation of demosites. Trust building, stakeholder empowerment and investment on transparency mechanisms related to water monitoring and sharing of communities and environmental benefits and costs of water reuse may be powerful approaches to implement water circular economy.