The 2030 Water Agenda endeavours to put more attention on demand management and on exploiting potential efficiency gains. For example, to achieve the goal of balanced basins, the 2030 Water Agenda projects that 82% of the “water gap” will be closed by reductions in water demand and 18% by supply increase. The role of economic instruments on achieving demand reductions is unclear; however, as the reductions in water demand are expected to be achieved through investments in infrastructure (in particular on water-efficient irrigation systems) supported by subsidies and is linked neither to water pricing reforms nor to more efficient allocation of water resources.