Chair
Gonzalo Delaveau

Water Law Committee

Welcome to the Water Law Committee online. The Water Law Committee focuses on legal issues associated with water as a critical resource and as a basic need and building block throughout the world. The Committee seeks to promote the active exchange of information and views on the use of water as a limited resource and an infrastructure opportunity, the controversies on water and the governance and business of water. The Water Law Committee is part of the IBA Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law

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About the Committee

The goal of the Water Law Committee is to examine:

Quantity and quality rights in international rivers
National water allocation systems
National water quality protection systems
Water resource related aspects of natural resource development
Hydroelectric development
Water transfers
Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms
Institutional issues in water resources development and distribution

Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences

IBA Annual Conference Mexico City 2024

15 Sep - 20 Sep 2024

Mexico City , Mexico

Scholarships

SEERIL scholarships for energy and natural resources law studies

The IBA Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL), together with its Academic Advisory Group (AAG), are delighted to announce that they are again accepting applications from students requiring funding for advanced studies or research in the fields of energy and natural resources law.

The scholarships and research grants, up to a total of £18,000 a year, and is open to students at any institution where at least one member of the faculty is an IBA/SEERIL member.

Find out more

Publications
All articles

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.

Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law

Published quarterly, the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (JERL) is the journal of the SEERIL. Featuring contributions written by some of the finest academic minds and most successful practitioners in this area of study, JERL is a highly respected journal committed to reflecting contemporary issues that face the energy and natural resources sectors.

Access the latest issue of JERL

Projects and Resolutions

Water Law Committee and United Nations Environment Program

The Committee, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding, works with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to support UNEP’s efforts around the world to help governments cope with emerging issues in the areas of water and sustainable development. These issues include transboundary freshwater governance and the capacity of governments to comply with international agreements.

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The London office of International Bar Association is registered in England and Wales as a branch with registration number FC028342.