The water cycle on earth is difficult both to perceive and understand completely. Life, as we know it, depends on its existence and proper usage, and any changes that occur to it whether it is at a local or a global scale, can have dire consequences on the land ecosystems. People, as well as the economic activities on which we subsist, are usually located close to water bodies. Rivers, aquifers, estuaries and coasts are usually the preferred settlement areas, which is why the sciences and technologies associated with the water cycle, in all its different facets, are part of the basic knowledge necessary for the societies of the XXI century to confront the hardships of a sustained, balanced and sustainable development.

In this scenario, the Environmental Hydraulics Institute IH Cantabria, aims to contribute to set the scientific bases and develop methodologies and tools to assist in the management of the integral water cycle.