Does using non-conventional water sources lead to better performance of Water Users Associations? A benchmarking analysis of water-scarce regions

To face a growing water demand in a context of water scarcity plus climate change, non-conventional sources (e.g. reclaimed water, desalinated seawater) emerge as promising supply alternatives. Given the major role of agriculture in water use, this study analyzes if using of non-conventional water sources leads to better performance of Water Users Associations (WUAs). To do so, the research includes WUAs from Murcia (Spain) and Apulia (Italy), namely drought-prone regions with structural water deficit, and different levels of experience regarding the use of non-conventional water. First, a comparative benchmarking analysis was carried out to assess WUAs performance. Second, a Principal Component Analysis and Clustering Analysis were applied, to explore dissimilarities between WUAs and their causes. Finally, a regression model was estimated to observe if the use of non-conventional water has any effects on WUAs’ performance. The study contributes to increase knowledge about pros and cons of using non-conventional water sources.