Publications for Water Law Committee

Water laws in Pakistan: a corporate perspective

Water is vital for agriculture, industry and economic growth. Since Pakistan relies heavily on the Indus River system, it has established strong laws to manage water use, ensure fair distribution and protect its rights over this key resource. This article examines Pakistan's water regulations, highlighting the country's aggressive efforts to protect and manage its water resources

Released on Aug 31, 2025

Chile’s desalination challenge: unlocking seawater in a water-scarce nation

Amid a twelve-year mega-drought and mounting water stress, Chile is investing heavily in seawater desalination, particularly in its mining-intensive northern regions. This column examines the legal and regulatory landscape shaping desalination projects in Chile, including environmental assessments, maritime concessions and land use challenges. It also highlights recent legislative and policy developments aimed at facilitating this crucial water strategy.

Released on Aug 31, 2025

The silent resource: water and the global green rush

While climate agendas increasingly focus on energy transition, carbon markets and biodiversity, water remains critically underacknowledged. This article explores how major technological and environmental initiatives – such as green hydrogen production and AI infrastructure – rely heavily on water, often exacerbating existing inequalities and environmental risks in resource-rich countries like Brazil. It argues that water must be repositioned as a strategic asset, demanding stronger governance, transparency and sovereignty to ensure a truly just and sustainable ecological transition.

Released on Aug 31, 2025

Brazil’s basic sanitation regulatory framework

Almost half of Brazil’s population does not have access to basic sanitation, a critical situation which has been further emphasised by the Covid-19 pandemic. In June 2020, the federal government issued Law No 14,026/2020 which aims to change this state of affairs and is expected to increase the much needed investment in this area.

Covid-19 reveals inequalities in access to Colombia’s water supply

The Covid-19 pandemic has uncovered the urban/rural inequalities in access to water supply in Colombia. Even though the government has taken temporary measures to address the crisis, it is imperative that new and permanent action is taken to ensure access to drinking water to the vast majority, if not the entire population.

The new regulatory framework: perspectives for water and sanitation in Brazil post-Covid-19

Brazil’s underdeveloped sanitation infrastructure has presented several challenges in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The long-repeated practice of state-held companies executing contracts to provide sanitation services with no investment or expansion requirements became an obstacle for the further development in the sector. A new regulation which came into force in 2020 aims to change the status quo, enabling universal sanitation standards by 2033.

New Sanitation Law and environmental perspectives in Brazil

A Brazilian Federal Law (No 14,026/2020) entitled the ‘Sanitation Legal Framework’ or ‘New Sanitation Law’ was published on 16 July 2020. Its main objective is to standardise and qualify of the water supply and sewage disposal services across Brazil.