The right to water in national legislations

Explicit acknowledgement that the right to water is a fundamental right is an important act with strong symbolic and legal value. It provides proof of the importance that government authorities give to water health and of their consideration for the desires of users who do not have access to drinking water.
All States, in the Johannesburg 2000 meeting, expressed their wish to improve access to water and sanitation. They all have taken numerous steps towards this by organising legal frameworks, creating institutions, and providing funds. But, although water is vital for live, there are still States, which oppose the recognition of the right to water as a human right.
This report aims to show the practical meaning of the right to water and how States have implemented this right. It is based on case studies and seeks to establish a catalogue of the most relevant legal provisions of domestic law on the right to water.
Examples taken from national legislation in a number of European and African countries are offered, and an overview of the various rights and duties associated with the right to water presented. Alongside general provisions, there are numerous additional provisions that facilitate or limit the exercise of the right to water and that establish or prevent the implementation of the necessary solidarity. The principal difference between States in this area is the number and financial scope of the measures taken for populations without water.