Berlin Rules on Water Resources

• Approved by the International Law Association in 2004
• Outline international law relating to freshwater resources (whether within a nation or crossing international boundaries)
• Replace the earlier 1966 Helsinki Rules
• 9 water management principles applying to all countries including national and internationally shared waters
• 1. Participatory water management: the public have a right to be involved in decision making
• 2. Coordinated use: surface water and groundwater resources to be managed to maximize the availability and reliability of water surpluses
• 3. Integrated management: all components of the drainage basin to be considered e.g vegetaion, watercourses, settlements and all stakeholders
• 4. Sustainability: economic, social, and environmental needs to be met (now and in future)
• 5. Minimization of environmental harm: e.g pollution
• 6. Cooperation over shared water resources: between regions in a country/between countries
• 7. Equitable utilization of shared water resources: all groups and communities to receive a fair share
• 8. Avoidance of transboundary harm: control of actions upstream
• 9. Equitable participation: all countries or players to have equal status