Water is a natural resource that performs different functions in development processes (satisfaction of population’s basic needs, key element for ecosystems and landscapes, input in different economic activities, etc.). Taking into account this relevance and its features as an economic good, public authorities have carried out an important role as regulators. The last milestone in this path has been the approval of the Water Framework Directive. One of the most innovative points of this European rule is the use of economic analysis for the optimisation of different water uses. However, the development of the works done for the design of the new water management plans has shown several shortcomings regarding the economic analysis of water uses, the analysis of costs recovery for water services and the selection of meassures to reach these objectives. In this sense it is necessary to strength the nexus between the policy- making and academic spheres in order to support a more rigorous and effective use of the large scientific knowledge developed in this field.