The project was initiated to increase the availability of water through the new irrigation system. This was done to allow for the development of more profitable crops, the establishment of new businesses, and other general economic benefits in the areas covered by the project. More than 16,000 land owners are currently growing crops which have a low yield and therefore low profitability, due to the lack of water available.

The planned irrigation system comprised two elements. The first element is led by the National Government and covers an 85km irrigation canal (Canal Segarra Garrigues) and a dam (Albages). The second element, which is the project covered by this case study, is being undertaken by the Project Company, Aigues del Segarra Garrigues SA, and consists of the development of a water distribution network, which takes water from the canal to groups of landowners, who are then responsible for building the infrastructure to transfer the water to their individual farms.

The Procuring Authority was Reg Sistema Segarra-Garrigues, which is a public-sector company created for the project by the Regional Government of Catalonia. This company was later absorbed into Infrastructure of Catalonia. The Procuring Authority signed the PPP contract with the Project Company for the design, construction, finance, maintenance and operation of the project.