The project “Urban conflicts around water” will seek to understand the evolution of the water regulatory framework from the point of view of conflict, based on essential information the cases that have reached the administrative courts in Portugal since the late nineteenth century. Its relevance stems from the growing importance of the theme of “water governance” in contemporary societies, where issues are raised, not so much in terms of service levels of water supply networks to the population, but especially in the capacity to manage services and infrastructures in the future. Once this task has been accomplished, it will be sought to compare the evolution of water regulation in Portugal with the international context, in particular through the similar case studies to be developed in different European countries, sponsored by UNESCO.