Principles of Water Law and Administration : National and International, 3rd Edition

This book, which was first published in 1992 and then updated in 2007, provides a tool for dealing with the legal and institutional aspects of water resources management within national contexts and at the level of transboundary water resources. Like its two previous editions, it seeks to cover all aspects that need to be known in order to attain good water governance, but it provides updates concerning developments since 2007. These relate, inter alia, to the following: - the “greening” of water law, which calls for the progressive integration of environmental law principles into domestic and international water law; - the adoption, by the International Law Commission in 2008, of the Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers, and subsequent developments; - the emergence of the right to water as a self-standing human right; - the adoption of domestic water laws supporting integrated water resources management (IWRM) and enhanced public participation in planning and decision making; - the integration into these laws of tools facilitating adaptive water management as a response to climate variability and change; - progress in the implementation of EU law; - recent international agreements and judicial decisions; - efforts of regional organizations other than the EU to steer cooperation in the management of transboundary water resources and the harmonization of national laws; - institutional mechanisms for the management of transboundary water resources (surface and underground). Unique in its scope and nature, the book identifies the legal and institutional issues arising in connection with water resources management and provides guidelines for possible solutions in a manner accessible to a wide range of readers. Thus, it is a useful reference for lawyers and non-lawyers ― engineers, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, economists, sociologists ― dealing with water resources within government institutions, river basin commissions, international organizations, financing institutions and academic institutions, among other things, and also for students of disciplines related to water resources. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Biographical notes Preface 1 Introduction 1.1 Water and the society 1.2 The need for a water policy, legislation and administration 1.3 The interdisciplinarity of the subject 1.4 The physical context 1.4.1 The hydrologic cycle 1.4.2 Definition and analysis of precipitation 1.4.3 Analysis of flow 1.4.4 Groundwater and its behaviour 1.4.5 The notion of aquifer 1.4.6 Weather modification 1.4.7 Climate change 1.4.8 Integrated water resources management (IWRM) 1.5 The socio-economic context 1.5.1 Water demand 1.5.2 Water pricing 1.5.3 Externalities 1.5.4 Cost analysis 1.6 The purpose of the book References 2 Earliest water regulations and management 2.1 The importance of water regulations throughout history 2.2 The difficulty of studying early water regulations 2.3 The development of earliest water law principles 2.4 Ancient Egyptian water regulations and management 2.4.1 Earliest dynasties (3400–2650 BC) 2.4.2 Later dynasties (2650–300 BC) 2.5 Ancient Mesopotamian water regulations and management 2.5.1 Historical development 2.5.2 The Hammurabi Code 2.5.3 Subsequent codifications 2.5.4 Detailed water regulations 2.6 Ancient Hindu water regulations and management 2.6.1 The Hindu legal system 2.6.2 The water regulations in the Code of Manu 2.7 Ancient Chinese water regulations and management 2.7.1 Introduction 2.7.2 Water regulations 2.7.3 Basic principles 2.8 Hebrew water regulations and management 2.8.1 Introduction 2.8.2 The importance of water 2.8.3 Water law principles 2.8.4 Conclusion 2.9 Pre-Columbian water regulations and management 2.9.1 Coastal Peru (Inca) 2.9.2 Meso-America (Maya-Aztec) 2.10 Other early systems of water regulations and management 2.11 General conclusion References 3 Roman and intermediate period 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Roman water law principles 3.2.1 The origins and Regal period (1000–500 BC) 3.2.2 The Republican period (509–27 BC) 3.2.2.1 The classification and ownership of water 3.2.2.2 The right to use water 3.2.2.3 Protection from harmful effects of water and control of waterworks and structures 3.2.2.4 Water administration 3.2.3 The Principate (27 BC–286 AD) 3.2.3.1 The classification and ownership of water 3.2.3.2 The right to use water 3.2.3.3 Protection of existing water rights: the interdicta 3.2.3.4 Protection from harmful effects of water and control of waterworks and structures 3.2.3.5 Water administration 3.2.4 The Absolute Monarchy or Late Empire (286–565 AD) 3.2.4.1 The classification and ownership of water 3.2.4.2 The right to use water 3.2.4.3 Protection from harmful effects of water and control of waterworks and structures 3.2.4.4 Water administration 3.3 Intermediate water law principles in Europe (565–1812) 3.3.1 First period (fifth century AD–1158) 3.3.1.1 Introduction 3.3.1.2 Principles of water law under Roman-Barbaric rule 3.3.1.3 The feudal system 3.3.1.4 Water law principles under the feudal system 3.3.2 Second period (1158–1812) 3.3.2.1 Introduction 3.3.2.2 The classification and ownership of water 3.3.2.3 The right to use water 3.4 Intermediate water law principles in Ibero-America 3.4.1 Early legal principles 3.4.2 Water regulations References 4 Definition and sources of water law 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The content and concept of water law 4.3 The relationship between water law and other legal disciplines 4.3.1 Constitutional law 4.3.2 Administrative law 4.3.3 Civil law 4.3.4 Criminal or penal law 4.3.5 Agrarian law 4.3.6 Mining law 4.3.7 Natural resources and/or environmental law 4.3.8 Public health law 4.3.9 Other legal disciplines 4.4 Sources of water law 4.5 Legislation in general 4.6 International and interstate agreements 4.7 Customary law 4.8 Case law and arbitral awards 4.9 Doctrine, or scholarly opinion 4.10 Common law 4.11 Conclusion References 5 Existing systems 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Original Roman water law principles and their influence in subsequent legislation 5.3 Customary water law: its importance 5.4 Water law principles in the Islamic system 5.4.1 Introduction 5.4.2 The origin and sources of Islamic water law 5.4.3 Water ownership and the right of use 5.4.4 Groundwater law 5.4.5 The process of codification and the Ottoman Civil Code ‘Mejelle’ 5.4.5.1 The Ottoman Civil Code ‘Mejelle’ 5.4.5.2 The legal status of water 5.4.5.3 The right to use water 5.4.5.4 Maintenance of waterways 5.4.5.5 The harim 5.4.6 Islamic water administration 5.4.6.1 Customary water administration 5.4.6.2 Recent developments in the administration of water 5.4.6.3 Government action in Moslem countries 5.5 Water law principles in civil law countries 5.5.1 Introduction 5.5.2 The legal status of water resources 5.5.3 The right to use water 5.5.4 Water quality and pollution control 5.5.5 Water administration 5.5.6 Conclusion 5.6 Water law principles in common law countries 5.6.1 Introduction 5.6.2 The legal status of water resources 5.6.3 The right to use water 5.6.4 Water quality and pollution control 5.6.5 Recent developments of the common law system 5.6.6 Water administration 5.7 Water law principles in the former Soviet system 5.7.1 Fundamentals of Soviet water law 5.7.2 The legal status of water 5.7.3 The right to use water 5.7.4 Order of priorities 5.7.5 Harmful effects of water 5.7.6 Water quality and pollution control 5.7.7 Enforcement 5.7.8 Centralized inventory and planning 5.7.9 Water administration 5.7.10 Evolution and trends 5.8 Water law principles in the Hindu subak system in Bali 5.8.1 Legal-historical background 5.8.2 Definition and origin 5.8.3 Organization 5.8.4 The legal status of water resources 5.8.5 The right to use water 5.8.6 Order of priorities 5.8.7 Water quality and pollution control 5.8.8 The water distribution system 5.8.9 Financial aspects 5.8.10 Water law implementation 5.8.11 The settlement of disputes 5.8.12 The statutory subak 5.8.13 Conclusion References 6 Development by region 6.1 Africa 6.1.1 Introduction 6.1.2 Customary law 6.1.3 Countries following principles of the civil law system 6.1.4 Countries following principles of the common law system 6.1.5 Countries following principles of other systems 6.1.6 Countries influenced by principles of the Islamic water law system 6.2 Asia and the Pacific 6.2.1 Introduction 6.2.2 Countries following principles of the civil law system 6.2.3 Countries following principles of the common law system 6.2.3.1 Australia 6.2.3.2 Bangladesh 6.2.3.3 India 6.2.3.4 Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 6.2.3.5 Other countries 6.2.4 Countries following principles of other systems 6.2.4.1 People’s Republic of China 6.2.4.2 Japan 6.2.4.3 The Philippines 6.2.4.4 Other countries 6.2.5 Water administration 6.3 Central and South America 6.3.1 Introduction 6.3.2 Central and South American water law principles 6.3.2.1 Latin American countries 6.3.2.2 Other countries of Central and South America 6.3.3 The legal status of water resources 6.3.4 The right to use water 6.3.5 Order of priorities 6.3.6 Legislation on water use, quality and pollution control 6.3.7 Water administration 6.4 Europe 6.4.1 Introduction 6.4.2 The legal status and the right to use water 6.4.3 Water quality and pollution control 6.4.4 Institutional framework 6.4.4.1 Federal states in Europe 6.4.4.2 Unitary states in Europe 6.4.4.3 States undergoing a process of decentralization 6.4.4.4 Basin level 6.4.5 The process of transposition of the European legal framework 6.4.5.1 Background 6.4.5.2 Developments 6.5 United States of America 6.5.1 Introduction 6.5.2 Federal water law principles 6.5.3 State water law principles 6.5.3.1 Riparian water law 6.5.3.2 The appropriation doctrine 6.5.3.3 Groundwater management 6.5.3.4 The conjunctive use of surface and underground water References 7 Possible contents of and reasons for water law 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The contribution of the lawyer 7.3 General considerations 7.4 Water policy 7.5 Collection and use of data and information 7.6 Water resources planning 7.7 Ownership or other juridical status of water 7.7.1 Public waters 7.7.2 Private waters 7.7.3 Res nullius 7.7.4 Common waters: community or tribal waters 7.7.5 Conclusion 7.8 The right to use water 7.8.1 Basic concepts 7.8.2 Legal régimes governing the right to use water freely or by virtue of a simple declaration/registration 7.8.2.1 The free use of water 7.8.2.2 Declaration/registration 7.8.3 The permit system 7.8.3.1 Applicability 7.8.3.2 Different types of permit 7.8.3.3 The procedure for granting permits 7.8.4 Characteristics of permits and concessions 7.8.4.1 The difference between permits and concessions 7.8.4.2 Common characteristics of permits and concessions 7.8.5 Recognition or reallocation of pre-existing water rights 7.8.5.1 Customary and riparian rights 7.8.5.2 Rights under the appropriation doctrine 7.8.5.3 Powers of the administration 7.8.5.4 The reallocation of water 7.8.6 Water markets 7.9 Limitations to the right to use 7.10 Priorities 7.11 Beneficial uses 7.11.1 Water and other natural resources 7.11.2 Domestic and municipal uses 7.11.3 Agricultural uses 7.11.4 Industrial uses 7.11.5 Hydropower production 7.11.6 Setting of minimum flow requirements 7.11.7 Other public uses 7.11.8 Conclusion 7.12 The right to water 7.13 Harmful effects of water 7.14 Water quality and pollution control 7.14.1 Waste and misuse of water 7.14.2 Recycling, reuse of water and recharging of aquifers 7.14.3 Wastewater and effluent control 7.14.4 Health preservation 7.14.5 Pollution control 7.15 Environment protection: the ‘greening’ of water law 7.16 Underground waters 7.16.1 General considerations 7.16.2 Exploration or prospecting permits 7.16.3 Drillers’ licences or permits 7.16.4 Groundwater found incidentally 7.16.5 Metering 7.16.6 Groundwater pollution control 7.16.7 Reservation of good quality groundwater for drinking purposes 7.16.8 Zoning mechanisms 7.17 Control and protection of waterworks and structures 7.18 Protected zones/areas 7.19 Legislation on financial aspects 7.20 Implementation of water legislation 7.20.1 General remarks 7.20.2 Judicial and administrative control over water ownership, use and distribution 7.20.3 Protection of individual rights and water rights 7.20.4 Administrative procedures for claims against the water administration 7.20.5 Water tribunals or courts 7.20.6 Penalties and sanctions 7.21 The interconnection between water law and other legal enactments relevant to water law 7.22 Customary water law and institutions 7.23 Water users’ associations 7.24 National water resources administration References 8 Water resources planning and water law 8.1 The rationale of water resources planning 8.2 Objectives of a water resources plan 8.3 Types and characteristics of plans 8.4 The relationship between water resources planning and economic and social sectors 8.5 Methods for planning processes 8.6 Relevant administrative and institutional issues 8.6.1 Administrative and institutional issues 8.6.2 Other factors contributing to a better administration and planning of water resources 8.7 Water resources planning under the European Water Framework Directive References 9 National water resources administration 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Different types of water resources administration 9.2.1 Institutions according to their powers 9.2.2 Institutions according to their functions 9.2.3 Institutions according to uses 9.2.4 Institutions according to their territorial level of jurisdiction 9.2.5 Institutions according to their legal régime 9.2.6 Special water development agencies 9.2.7 Water users’ associations 9.3 Major issues of water resources administration 9.3.1 The need for coordination 9.3.2 The question of centralization, decentralization and deconcentration of the water administration 9.3.3 The water rights administration 9.3.4 The need for a water resources ‘regulatory’ institution 9.3.4.1 Definitions 9.3.4.2 Major objectives and functions of a regulatory institution 9.3.5 The role of water law in institution building 9.4 A possible institutional solution 9.4.1 Institutions at the national level 9.4.1.1 A national water resources council 9.4.1.2 A national water committee or commission 9.4.1.3 A central water administration 9.4.2 Institutions at the regional, basin, sub-basin and local levels 9.4.2.1 At the regional level 9.4.2.2 At the basin or sub-basin level 9.4.2.3 At the aquifer level 9.4.2.4 At the local level 9.4.2.5 At the international level 9.4.3 Conclusion References 10 International water resources law in general 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The concept of ‘international water resources’ and other definitions 10.2.1 A historical review 10.2.2 The drainage basin concept 10.2.3 The expression ‘international water resources’ 10.3 The sources of international water resources law 10.3.1 Introduction 10.3.2 International conventions 10.3.2.1 General conventions 10.3.2.2 Particular conventions 10.3.3 International customary water law 10.3.4 The codification of international water resources law 10.3.5 The law-making activity of the European Union 10.3.6 General principles of international water resources law 10.3.7 Resolutions of intergovernmental organizations 10.3.8 Judicial decisions 10.3.8.1 Decisions of international courts 10.3.8.2 Arbitral awards 10.3.8.3 Decisions of national tribunals 10.3.9 Contributions of publicists and international non-governmental organizations 10.3.9.1 The work of the Institute of International Law 10.3.9.2 The work of the International Law Association 10.3.9.3 The work of the Inter-American Bar Association 10.3.9.4 The work of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee 10.3.9.5 The work of the Pan American Union 10.3.9.6 The work of the Council of Europe 10.3.9.7 The work of the International Association for Water Law References 11 International water resources law: major issues 11.1 Boundary demarcation 11.1.1 Introduction 11.1.2 The boundary on a successive river 11.1.3 The boundary on a contiguous river 11.1.3.1 The boundary at the banks (river res nullius) 11.1.3.2 The boundary at the banks (river res communis) 11.1.3.3 The boundary at one of the banks 11.1.3.4 The boundary at the median line 11.1.3.5 The boundary at the thalweg 11.1.4 Natural modifications of the boundary on a contiguous river 11.1.5 The boundary on a bridge over a contiguous river 11.2 Navigation 11.2.1 Origins 11.2.2 The internationalization of navigation 11.2.3 The Congress of Vienna (1815) 11.2.4 The Treaty of Paris (1856): the régime of the Danube 11.2.5 The navigation régime after 1856 11.2.6 The Act of Berlin (1885) 11.2.7 The régime after World War I 11.2.8 The régime established at Barcelona (1921) 11.2.8.1 The administration of international waterways 11.2.8.2 Evaluation 11.2.9 Developments after Barcelona 11.2.10 The régime after World War II 11.3 Non-navigational uses of water 11.3.1 Introduction 11.3.2 The theory of absolute territorial sovereignty 11.3.3 The theory of absolute territorial integrity 11.3.4 The theory of limited territorial sovereignty and integrity 11.3.5 The shared natural resources concept 11.3.6 Equitable and reasonable utilization and participation 11.3.7 Obligation not to cause significant harm 11.3.8 Floating 11.3.9 Production of energy and industrial uses 11.3.10 Procedural rules 11.3.11 Conclusions 11.4 Harmful effects of water 11.4.1 Definition 11.4.2 Evolution 11.4.3 The emerging rule 11.5 Quality control of water 11.5.1 Definition 11.5.2 Evolution 11.5.3 The emerging rule 11.6 Armed conflict 11.6.1 Definition 11.6.2 Precedents 11.6.3 The emerging rule 11.7 Environmental aspects 11.7.1 Definitions 11.7.2 Evolution 11.7.3 The emerging rule 11.8 The right to water in international law 11.8.1 Definitions 11.8.2 Evolution 11.8.3 The emerging rule References 12 Developments in the law of transboundary aquifers 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Sources and evolution of international groundwater law 12.3 The experience of federal countries 12.4 The codification of the law of transboundary aquifers 12.5 Institutional issues 12.6 The emerging rules 12.7 Conclusion References 13 International water resources administration 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Institutional developments 13.2.1 Institutional developments in Europe 13.2.1.1 The Rhine Commissions 13.2.1.2 The Danube Commissions 13.2.1.3 Other commissions 13.2.2 Institutional developments in the Americas 13.2.2.1 The International Joint Commission between the USA and Canada 13.2.2.2 The International Boundary and Water Commission between USA and Mexico 13.2.2.3 The Plata River Basin 13.2.2.4 Other commissions 13.2.3 Institutional developments in Africa 13.2.3.1 The Nile Commission 13.2.3.2 Post-1960’s basin institutions 13.2.3.3 The Liptako-Gourma Authority 13.2.3.4 Institutional framework for cooperation in Southern Africa 13.2.3.5 The contribution of regional economic integration organizations 13.2.4 Institutional developments in Asia 13.2.4.1 The Mekong River Commission 13.2.4.2 The Indus Commission 13.2.4.3 Joint commissions between Nepal and India 13.2.4.4 The India-Bangladesh Joint Commission 13.2.4.5 Institutional arrangements for the Aral Sea basin 13.2.4.6 The Helmand River Commission 13.2.4.7 Other commissions 13.3 Evaluation of existing arrangements 13.4 Objectives and purposes 13.4.1 Technical responsibilities 13.4.2 Economic and financial responsibilities 13.4.3 Legal and administrative responsibilities 13.4.4 Possible options 13.5 Duration, constitution and decision-making procedures 13.5.1 Duration 13.5.2 Constitution 13.5.3 Procedures for decision making 13.5.4 Legal status 13.6 Territorial competence 13.7 Functions and powers 13.8 Form 13.9 Major institutional requirements for rational international water resources administration 13.10 Economic and financial requirements 13.11 Prevention and settlement of disputes 13.12 Conclusion References Index