The Valencia Water Court is a traditional common-law body, custodian of an age-old community-focused and democratic water culture. Following its nomination presented jointly by the regions of Valencia and Murcia, it has been declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
The Water Court performs its jurisdictional function by holding a public hearing every Thursday at midday outside the Apostles Gate of Valencia's Cathedral. Its mission is to guarantee the correct functioning of the region's vast and complex network of irrigation channels and safeguard the interests of the communities of irrigation water-users in Valencia, Quart, Benàger-Faitanar, Tormos, Mislata, Mestalla, Favara, Rascanya, Rovella and Xirivella.
Made up of democratically elected farmers, this court settles conflicts between irrigation water-users orally, quickly, cheaply, publically and impartially. Decisions are upheld through the respect held for the court and the recognition of the farmer-judges as honourable persons, experts in uses and customs, and fair in their proceedings.
Its survival over the centuries and its integration into the Spanish judicial system, with the same guarantees and legal value as any civil court, is explained by its effective contribution to the maintenance of the vast and complex system of irrigation channels used for Valencia's fertile plains, built in the Andalusi age (9th-13th Century).
