International Duties and Obligations for Transboundary Water Sharing

Abstract

The need for effective water sharing agreements between sovereign states is increasing as more people and industries compete for use of that finite resource. To prevent conflict the affected parties must enter into an effective and efficient water sharing agreement for equitable sharing of the water. States entering into the transboundary water sharing agreement are obligated to perform four duties: (1) The duty to cooperate and negotiate in good faith; (2) the duty to prevent unreasonable harm; (3) the duty of equitable utilization; and (4) the duty to exchange data and information.