International water law and supporting water management principles in the development of a model transboundary agreement between riparians in international river basins

Abstract

A set of water management principles are analyzed and form the basis for a template for a model transboundary agreement for international river basins. The tenets of international water law, which support the selection of the principles, are analyzed. The principles include equitable and reasonable utilization and the obligation to not cause significant harm as the interrelated and overarching principles of international watercourse management. The development of a template is undertaken because ratification of the 1997 UN watercourses convention is at hand and a template consistent with this convention may facilitate the protection of shared water resources.

Keywords:

• transboundary rivers
• international water law
• equitable utilization
• no harm
• riparian states