Solving disputes is essential to shared resources and how to do that made up the core of Elinor Ostrom's principles for managing a commons. Nordman presents a case study on the Water Tribunal in Valencia, Spain that handles conflicts related to their water irrigation system. The system is made up of 8 canals, each one making up its own district. It is a system that has been self-managed for over a thousand years.

Every Thursday, the council—made up of 1 elected representative per district—meets outside the cathedral in Valencia to handle any disputes brought forward. Key to this is that anyone who owns land in one of the districts can come before the Tribunal seeking justice. In Valencia, this has long included women. As per Ostrom's principles, conflict-management needs to be accessible.

Nordman shares a painting of this by Bernardo Ferrandiz in 1863 that portrays a woman standing before the Tribunal. It's a beautiful portrayal of a system that has effectively managed an essential, shared resource in that area for centuries. He once again notes how social shame continues plays a role here, no farmer wants to be brought before the Tribunal—so interpersonal conflict management is key.