Enhancing collaboration between water management and urban planning for climate adaptation: A case study in a Mediterranean region

The combined pressures of urbanisation, population growth, and climate change on urban water availability create complex challenges. The literature underlines the relevance of collaboration between water management and the spatial planning sector to foster urban adaptation to climate change. However, studies exploring its potential features are scarce. This article designs a collaborative model to foster articulation between water management and spatial planning agencies, and it explores how this type of collaboration can be improved in a water-scarce region (Algarve, Portugal). For this purpose, it analyses how collaboration is considered in current water, spatial and climate-related plans and how in-place practitioners perceive collaboration-related barriers and drivers. The findings show that (i) collaboration for adaptation is poorly integrated in the plans; (ii) practitioners recognise the need for collaboration but (iii) point out the lack of specific guidelines and slow decision-making processes as significant challenges, which could be overcome with an independent adaptation department to spearhead a transition process; (iv) and underline that collaboration could facilitate the design and implementation of urgent measures such as water reuse, rainwater harvesting, or building restrictions. The article offers the scientific community fresh and practical insights into the current understanding of collaboration between the urban water and spatial planning sectors within a water scarcity regional context and how to improve it. • Urban governance must align water management and urban planning sectors. • Collaborative model proposed to improve coordination in water-scarce Algarve. • Lack of collaboration focus in current water, spatial, and climate plans. • Slow decision-making and no clear guidelines hinder effective adaptation. • Water reuse, rainwater harvesting, and green zones need better collaboration.