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One of the most crucial discussions within water resource management is the debate between those who defend the concept of economic efficiency and those who privilege notions of social equity. This tension is located at the core of binary categories that currently constitute the public debate within comparative water law and policy. These categories are commodity/human right, private property/common property, free-market/state regulation, and market value/community value. This paper explores this tension by studying how neoclassical economics understands efficiency and tracing its rise as a key hegemonic principle for water resource management. I also present equity as a conceptual opposition to efficiency and describe its institutionalization through the human-right-to-water frame. A problematization of both the equity approach and the human-right-to-water frame follows. Finally, I propose a political ecology approach to better understand the tension between efficiency and equity and offer recommendations for informing the water research agenda on efficiency/equity.

Access to drinking water in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, is an unresolved issue, especially in the State’s rural communities far from the centers of development. As an option to the strategy of piped water, which requires high levels of investment to guarantee the supply to the population, rainwater catchment has become an institutional alternative that intends to partially address this social debt. The objective of this article is to show the virtues of this practice in homes that have benefited with a rainwater catchment system provided by the State government. The paper is based on research that used interviews and non-participant observation for information gathering. Among the results obtained is a positive social perception linked to the multiple benefits associated with the collection systems. It is concluded that it is necessary to expand the scale of replication of said systems accompanied by information, training (environmental education and technical notions of the catchment system) and monitoring to consolidate among households a practice that offers social, environmental and economic benefits.

Resumen Desde 2010, la ONU reconoce el derecho humano al agua y al saneamiento, siendo una minoría los países de la región latinoamericana, los que han procedido a recoger este derecho en sus textos constitucionales, mientras que mayoritariamente el resto habría adoptado su existencia tácitamente en alusión a otros derechos previamente reconocidos, como son la salud o la protección del medio ambiente. Chile, a través de su legislación, representa un caso único para el conjunto latinoamericano lo que nos lleva a examinar si el reconocimiento internacional de este derecho es compatible con su ordenamiento jurídico. Abstract Since 2010 UN recognizes human rights to water and sanitation. A minority of countries in Latin America have adopted this right in their constitutional texts, while the mayority of the countries in the region have tacitly recognised their existence. Chilenean legislation represents a unique case in Latin America, leading us to a study about if the international recognition of this right is compatible with its legal system.

First published online: 30 October 2020 This article analyses the implementation of the human right to water in Tunisia, focusing on the procedural indicator on ‘participation’. The article looks at the functioning of local Water User Associations as the lowest institutional level of water management and reviews the performance criteria for participation within these associations as applied by the Tunisian government against the background of the legal norms for the human right to water and the indicator on participation within Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation, i.e. SDG 6.b.

Costa Rica needs to improve the drinking-water supply service of an important part of the po- pulation, aiming to ensure the access to this vital resource considered as a human right. [Objective]: This study evaluated the perception of the population of four cities of the province of Cartago (Alvarado, Jiménez, Oreamuno, and Turrialba) about the public drinking-water supply service they receive in their communities. [Methodology]: The analysis considered both the geographic location of the population and the type of service provider to show the similarities and contrasts found in each case. Through surveys, the opinion of 2,194 users of the drinking water systems of these localities was collected. [Results]: It was found that there are considerable asymmetries between many of the existing systems, with some problems at the level of service continuity and organoleptic propertiesof the liquid. The study identified a strong dependence between the variables of i) level of user satisfaction, ii) problems identified in the system, and iii) actions implemented by users to mitigate these shortcomings. [Conclu- sions]: The experience resulting from this study of evaluating the water supply service in a community through the perception of its users complements the traditional service indicators. The experience also has a high potential to be replicated in other communities of Costa Rica and other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. En Costa Rica existe la necesidad de mejorar la calidad de la prestación del servicio de agua potable de una parte importante de la población, lo que garantiza el Derecho Humano a este recurso vital. [Objetivo]: Este estudio evaluó la percepción de la población de cuatro cantones de la provincia de Cartago (Alvarado, Jiménez, Oreamuno y Turrialba), en relación con el servicio público de agua potable que reciben en su comunidad. [Metodología]: El análisis realizado contempló tanto la ubicación geográfica de la población como el tipo prestatario del servicio, con el fin de evidenciar las similitudes y contrastes que se generan en cada caso. Por medio de encuestas, se obtuvo la opinión de 2 194 personas usuarias de los sistemas hídricos en esas localidades. [Resultados]: Se determinó que existen asimetrías considerables entre varios de los sistemas existentes, con algunos problemas en el nivel de continuidad del servicio y de propiedades organolépticas del líquido. El estudio permitió identificar una fuerte dependencia entre las variables de i) nivel de satisfacción de la persona usuaria, ii) problemas identificados en el sistema y iii) acciones que se implementan en las casas para mitigar esas falencias. [Conclusiones]: La experiencia resultante de este estudio, que evalúa el servicio a través de la percepción de las personas usuarias complementa los indicadores de calidad del servicio tradicionales y presenta un elevado potencial para ser replicado en otros sistemas de Costa Rica y en otros países de América Latina y el Caribe. Universidad de Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ingeniería::Facultad de Ingeniería::Escuela de Ingeniería Civil

This publication belongs to Volume 6, No 2, of the WATERLAT-GOBACIT Network Working Papers Series (http://waterlat.org/publications/working-papers-series/) In Mexico, the State does not guarantee the right to water and sanitation. As a result, many communities rely on their own knowledge of water access and management, and often weave networks with non-governmental actors in this endeavor. Here I analyze an experience of water quality monitoring carried out with a marginalized community in Morelia, Mexico, an experience that is part of their strategy to guarantee their right to water. My research on such community experiences, in the context of marginalized communities in the Global South, is guided by two questions: (1) Can they be considered forms of citizen science? and (2) Is such conceptualization relevant in academic and social terms? My analysis suggests an affirmative answer in both cases. However, I argue that in contexts like this in Latin America it would be necessary to theorize about citizen science departing from critical literature on science developed by civil society, as well as on the production of knowledges and ecologies of knowledges, as proposed in various epistemologies of the South.

RESUMEN La introducción de la gobernanza del agua en el ordenamiento colombiano y la alta conflictividad socioecológica motivan los análisis que vinculan la naturaleza con los derechos humanos. Desde una investigación de corte dogmático descriptivo y analítico, este artículo propone el relacionamiento de la gobernanza del agua con los derechos humanos por medio de la integración de una serie de estándares jurídicos vinculados al Acuerdo de Escazú y al derecho humano al agua. Entre los hallazgos se identificaron: la deficiente reglamentación de la participación y del acceso a la información, la falta del financiamiento público, la limitación de la deliberación, la desmotivación de la concertación y la falta de integración efectiva de los grupos en condición de vulnerabilidad. Los objetivos de la gobernanza del agua, materializados en los Consejos de cuenca, se relacionan con los estándares jurídicos integrados y los hallazgos obtenidos. ABSTRACT The introduction of water governance to the Colombian ordering and the high sociological potential for conflict are the foundation of those analyses which links nature with human rights. From a dogmatic-descriptive and analytical research perspective, this articles proposes a link between water governance with human rights via the integration of a series of law standards linked to the Escazú Agreement and the human right to water, Among the findings, the research identified: a deficient ruling of participation and information access, a lack of knowledge from the public, some limitation on deliberation and demotivation for agreements, as well as a lack of effective integration of groups in vulnerable condition. The objectives of governance of water materialized in the basin councils, are related to integrated law standards and the research findings. RESUMO A introdução da governança da água no ordenamento colombiano e a alta conflitividade socioecológica motivam as análises que vinculam a natureza com os Direitos Humanos. A partir de uma pesquisa de corte dogmático descritivo e analítico, este artigo propõe a relação da governança da água com os Direitos Humanos por meio da integração de parâmetros jurídicos vinculados ao Acordo de Escazú e ao Direito Humano à água. Entre os achados, foram identificadas: a deficiente regulamentação da participação e do acesso à informação, a falta do financiamento público, a limitação da deliberação, a desmotivação do acordo e a falta de integração efetiva dos grupos em condição de vulnerabilidade. Os objetivos da governança da água, materializados nos Conselhos de Bacia, estão relacionados com os parâmetros jurídicos integrados e os achados obtidos.

Το αν υφίσταται ένα ανθρώπινο δικαίωμα στο νερό θεωρητικά αλλά και κανονιστικά καθώς και αν θεσπιζόμενο ένα τέτοιο δικαίωμα και προστατευόμενο από Διεθνείς Συνθήκες αλλά και από το εσωτερικό δίκαιο των κρατών έχει και πρακτική εφαρμογή, αποτελεί ένα από τα σημαντικά θέματα συζήτησης στην περιβαλλοντική βιοηθική και πιο συγκεκριμένα στην περιβαλλοντική δικαιοσύνη. Οι ομάδες πολιτών, οι συνδικαλιστικές οργανώσεις, και τα διάφορα κοινωνικά κινήματα νερού υποστηρίζουν σθεναρά ένα τέτοιο δικαίωμα, το οποίο μπορεί να βελτιώσει την ποιότητα ζωής και να ενισχύσει την ευημερία όλων των ανθρώπων ανεξαιρέτως στα ζητήματα του νερού. Σε μια εποχή που στην Ευρώπη προωθείται η ιδιωτικοποίηση των δημοσίων υπηρεσιών κοινωνικής ωφελείας, η ανάγκη για προσεγγίσεις τέτοιων ζητημάτων με βάση τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα γίνεται και πιο επιτακτική. Ευθυγραμμισμένη με την ανάγκη αυτή είναι και η Ευρωπαϊκή Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών (ECI) η οποία με την δράση της στοχεύει με νομοθετικές προτάσεις προς την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή να εξασφαλίσει ασφαλές οικονομικό και προσβάσιμο νερό για όλους.Με το παρόν δοκίμιο θα προσπαθήσουμε να διερευνήσουμε αν η Ευρωπαϊκή Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών εκπλήρωσε τους στόχους που είχε για την εφαρμογή του ανθρώπινου δικαιώματος στο νερό στην Ευρωπαϊκή Νομοθεσία, καθώς και αν η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή ανταποκρίθηκε αρκούντως στα αιτήματά της., Whether there is a human right to water theoretically or in a normative context and whether such a right when legislatively established and protected via International Treaties and the National Law of States has practical application, constitutes one of the important topics of public discourse in environmental bioethics and more specifically in environmental justice. Citizens’ groups, trade unions and various social movements strongly support such a right, which can improve – without exception - the quality of life and enhance the well-being of everyone, regarding water issues. At a time when Europe promotes the privatization of public social services, the need for managing such issues through a rights-based approach becomes more and more urgent. Aligned with this need is the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) whose action aims to ensure affordable, safe and accessible water to all, through legislative proposals to the European Commission.In this essay, we will make an effort to examine whether the European Citizens’ Initiative met its set objectives regarding the implementation of the human right to water in the EU legislation and whether the European Commission has responded adequately to its demands.

Groundwater is widely acknowledged to be an important source of drinking water in low-income regions, and it, therefore, plays a critical role in the realization of the human right to water. However, the proportion of households using groundwater compared with other sources is rarely quantified, with national and global datasets more focused on facilities&mdash, rather than resources&mdash, used. This is a significant gap in knowledge, particularly in light of efforts to expand water services in line with the inclusive and integrated agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding the prevalence of groundwater reliance for drinking is critical for those involved in water services planning and management, so they can better monitor and advocate for management of water resources that supports sustainable services for households. This paper contributes data that can be used to strengthen the integration of resource considerations within water service delivery and inform the work of development partners supporting this area. We approach this issue from two perspectives. Firstly, we collate data on the proportion of households using groundwater as their primary drinking water source for 10 Southeast Asian and Pacific nations, finding an average of 62% (range of 17&ndash, 93% for individual countries) of households in urban areas and 60% (range of 22&ndash, 95%) of households in rural areas rely on groundwater for drinking. Together, these constitute 79% of the total population across the case study countries. Secondly, we review current and emerging groundwater resource concerns within each country, using a systems thinking approach to assess how groundwater resource issues influence household water services. Findings support the case for governments and development agencies to strengthen engagement with groundwater resource management as foundational for achieving sustainable water services for all.

Los indicadores de derechos humanos surgen con el objetivo de entender en qué medida un derecho está siendo de facto garantizado. Es a partir de los años 70, dos décadas después de la proclamación de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, cuando emergen una multitud de iniciativas para medir la realización de estos derechos. Sin embargo, tales esfuerzos no llegaron a ofrecer una respuesta definitiva, los indicadores son parte de un campo reciente que aún está siendo desarrollado. A pesar de sus limitaciones, los indicadores proporcionan un monitoreo del acatamiento por parte de los Estados de los deberes que emanan de los textos internacionales ratificados. El propósito de este artículo es aproximarse al estado general de la cuestión, discutiendo el concepto de indicador de derechos humanos, y utilizando el ejemplo de los derechos sociales, y en particular del derecho al agua, para demostrar la importancia de este campo y de su constante evolución Human rights indicators are created with the aim of understanding to which extent a right is being de facto guaranteed. It is from the 70s, two decade after the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, when a multitude of initiatives to measure the realization of these rights emerge. However, such efforts fail to offer a definitive answer. In fact, human rights indicators are part of a recent field that is still under development. Despite its limitations, indicators monitor the compliance by States with the duties that emanate from the international texts they have ratified. The purpose of this article is to assess the general state of the issue, discussing the concept of a human rights indicator, and using the example of social rights, and in particular the right to water, to demonstrate the importance of this field and of its constant evolution. Este artículo fue realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación “Transformaciones de la justicia. Autonomía, inequidad y ejercicio de derechos”, referencia DER2016-78356-P, financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y del programa de investigación GRISOLIA (Ref. 2016/098), también de financiación autonómica.

La creciente demanda de los individuos sobre el agua, ha aumentado de manera significativa las presiones ejercidas sobre su uso. Por tal razón, la capacidad de acción colectiva y autogestión que se desarrolle entorno a este recurso de uso común – RUC, es determinante para su protección y sostenibilidad, y generalmente está influenciada por las decisiones políticas, económicas y culturales, toda vez que sus lineamientos garantizan o no el cumplimiento del derecho humano al agua potable en un territorio específico. Esta investigación analiza el caso particular del municipio de Maicao en La Guajira a la luz de tres enfoques teórico – metodológicos: la teoría de la acción colectiva de Elinor Ostrom, el enfoque basado en los derechos humanos y la tipología de investigación conocida como práctica basada en diagnóstico, que permitirán entender, no sólo las fallas de coordinación entre los habitantes de la comunidad y las organizaciones competentes para la preservación y aprovechamiento adecuado del líquido, sino entender que se requiere de mayores esfuerzos colectivos para transformar las instituciones tradicionales, y así superar parcialmente la problemática, asociada a la no garantía del derecho humano al agua en el municipio estudiado. The shortage of water in the world corresponds to one of the greatest environmental and ecological challenges that humanity faces nowadays. For this reason, the capacity of collective action and self-management that involved this common pool resources – CPR, is determinant for its protection and sustainability, and is generally influenced by political, economic and cultural decisions, since its guidelines guarantees or not the fulfillment of the human right to water in a specific territory. This research analyzes the particular case of the municipality of Maicao in La Guajira that includes three theoretical - methodological approaches: the theory of collective action of Elinor Ostrom, the approach based on human rights and the type of research known as practice based in diagnostics, which will make possible to understand not only the implications of the failures of coordination between the inhabitants of the community and the competent organizations for the preservation and adequate use of the water, but to understand that greater collective efforts are required to transform the traditional institutions, and in this way partially overcome the problem that is associated with the non-guarantee of the human right to water in the municipality that is studied. Magíster en Gobierno del Territorio y Gestión Pública Maestría

Los indicadores de derechos humanos surgen con el objetivo de entender en qué medida un derecho está siendo de facto garantizado. Es a partir de los años 70, dos décadas después de la proclamación de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, cuando emergen una multitud de iniciativas para medir la realización de estos derechos. Sin embargo, tales esfuerzos no llegaron a ofrecer una respuesta definitiva, los indicadores son parte de un campo reciente que aún está siendo desarrollado. A pesar de sus limitaciones, los indicadores proporcionan un monitoreo del acatamiento por parte de los Estados de los deberes que emanan de los textos internacionales ratificados. El propósito de este artículo es aproximarse al estado general de la cuestión, discutiendo el concepto de indicador de derechos humanos, y utilizando el ejemplo de los derechos sociales, y en particular del derecho al agua, para demostrar la importancia de este campo y de su constante evolución Human rights indicators are created with the aim of understanding to which extent a right is being de facto guaranteed. It is from the 70s, two decade after the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, when a multitude of initiatives to measure the realization of these rights emerge. However, such efforts fail to offer a definitive answer. In fact, human rights indicators are part of a recent field that is still under development. Despite its limitations, indicators monitor the compliance by States with the duties that emanate from the international texts they have ratified. The purpose of this article is to assess the general state of the issue, discussing the concept of a human rights indicator, and using the example of social rights, and in particular the right to water, to demonstrate the importance of this field and of its constant evolution. Este artículo fue realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación “Transformaciones de la justicia. Autonomía, inequidad y ejercicio de derechos”, referencia DER2016-78356-P, financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y del programa de investigación GRISOLIA (Ref. 2016/098), también de financiación autonómica.

Purpose – This paper aims to review the regulation of the water market in Chile, which is based on a market for buying and selling water rights, together with the criticisms that have recently been made on that matter. Methodology/approach/design – The pro market positions seeking moderate transformations will be studied on par with the more reformist ones flourishing in social activism. This paper compares these two strands. In order to find similarities among them, this paper tackles Ostrom's ideas about self-management of common goods and Croley's administrative process theory. Findings – From these theoretical approaches, it is drawn the conclusion that they converge in the institutional improvement of the Directorate General of Water and the regulation of legal bodies, alongside ideal representations of waters rights market and the human right to water.

This paper aims to contribute to the debate on the increasing inequalities in access to water and the concentration of the deficit among certain population groups. In particular, it seeks a better understanding of the multiple inequalities of access to water that can exist within a community that lacks a water supply system. Data collection took place in the community of Cristais (Ceará) and included the application of 232 questionnaires to all of the community's heads of household between May and July 2014. The findings reveal that the conditions of access to water in relation to quantity and physical and economic accessibility are not uniform within the community of Cristais and these inequalities derive from the various forms of vulnerability found in the community. Understanding how these inequalities in access function within an excluded group can contribute to the development of more effective public policies to tackle this problem. Resumen Este trabajo busca contribuir al debate sobre el aumento de las desigualdades en el acceso a agua y la concentración del déficit en determinados grupos de la población. En particular, busca una mejor comprensión de las múltiples desigualdades en el acceso a agua que pueden existir al interior de una misma comunidad que no posee Sistema de Abastecimiento de Agua. El articulo se basa en datos recogidos en la comunidad de Cristais (Ceará), que incluyó la aplicación de 232 cuestionarios al universo de los jefes de domicilio entre mayo y julio de 2014. Los hallazgos muestran que las condiciones de acceso a agua con relación a los aspectos de cantidad, accesibilidad física y económica de la comunidad de Cristais no son uniformes y son resultado de las diversas formas de vulnerabilidad encontradas en la comunidad. Entender como se dan las desigualdades de acceso al interior de un grupo excluido puede contribuir a la elaboración de políticas publicas más eficaces para enfrentar este problema. Resumo Este trabalho propõe-se a contribuir com o debate sobre o aumento das desigualdades no acesso à água e a concentração do déficit em determinados grupos populacionais. Em particular, busca uma melhor compreensão das múltiplas desigualdades de acesso à água que podem existir no interior de uma mesma comunidade que não conta com Sistema de Abastecimento de Água. A coleta de dados se realizou na comunidade de Cristais (Ceará) e compreendeu a aplicação de 232 questionários no universo dos chefes dos domicílios entre maio e julho de 2014. Os achados revelam que as condições de acesso à água nos aspectos da quantidade, acessibilidade física e econômica da comunidade de Cristais não são uniformes e são decorrentes das diversas formas de vulnerabilidade encontradas no local. Entender como se dão as desigualdades de acesso ao interior de um grupo excluído, pode contribuir para a elaboração de políticas públicas mais eficazes para enfrentar este problema.

RESUMENEl presente artículo establece una aproximación sobre el reconocimiento del derecho humano al agua en los instrumentos internacionales. Inicia con una aclaración conceptual para entrar al análisis de la génesis de este derecho, continúa con el avance que ha tenido en diferentes documentos para llegar a aquellos que lo abordan, pero que no cuentan con la importancia necesaria para señalar en ellos su reconocimiento, contrario a los estudiados en seguida que sí la incluyen.No obstante, dicho reconocimiento se ha enfrentado a cuestiones de interpretación, pues se debate sobre la importancia vinculante de los mismos y sus efectos de garantía y satisfacción. Por ello, la discusión radica en determinar si se cuenta con un total reconocimiento de este derecho o si se está nuevamente ante el argumento de documentos no vinculantes.ABSTRACTThe purpose of the present article is to establish an approach to the recognition of the water human right in international instruments. It begins with a conceptual clarification of human rights and continues with the analysis of this right genesis. The text continues analyzing the progress this right has had in different documents until finding those that contain it, but do not have the required importance to recognize it. Finally, it finishes with the analysis of the documents that include this right.However, such recognition has encountered interpretation issues, the debate focuses on the importance of the water right recognition and its effects regarding satisfaction and guarantee. So, it is necessary to determine whether this right is fully recognized or it is a right of a non-binding document.

Water access remains a challenge in rural areas of low-income countries. Manual drilling technologies have the potential to enhance water access by providing a low cost drinking water alternative for communities in low and middle income countries. This paper provides an overview of the main successes and challenges experienced by manual boreholes in the last two decades. A review of the existing methods is provided, discussing their advantages and disadvantages and comparing their potential against alternatives such as excavated wells and mechanized boreholes. Manual boreholes are found to be a competitive solution in relatively soft rocks, such as unconsolidated sediments and weathered materials, as well as and in hydrogeological settings characterized by moderately shallow water tables. Ensuring professional workmanship, the development of regulatory frameworks, protection against groundwater pollution and standards for quality assurance rank among the main challenges for the future.

Although the Human Right to Water and Sanitation (HRtWS) has been recognised by the United Nations and several countries have reformed their constitutions and/or national legislation to reflect this decision, several others, namely developed countries, have not reacted domestically to this recognition. The argument usually lies with the high level of institutionalisation of economic, social and cultural rights in these countries. However, reports of water disconnections due to payment default, especially in times of economic crisis and austerity policies, raise the issue of what does the implementation of the HRtW imply in countries where physical accessibility is almost fully guaranteed. The discussion seems to then focus on issues of affordability. This article focuses solely on the dynamics of implementing the Human Right to Water, because once the physical accessibility to sanitation is guaranteed, even if the service is deemed unaffordable and payment default ensues, disconnection of sewage collection per se does not occur. This does not imply that there are no issues associated with sanitation services in Portugal, but that those issues are of a different nature and beyond the scope of this article. Portugal does not have an explicit recognition of the HRtWS in its legal framework, but voted in its favor in the United Nations General Assembly and it is also a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Thus, in Portugal, a country with 96% of the population connected to drinking water services, the HRtW is considered a non-issue. The article, however, argues that the HRtW in Portugal is not fully implemented and that issues of affordability hinder its respect, protection and fulfillment. The discussion builds on research conducted after the economic crisis period (2010&ndash, 2014), since during those challenging years, the country faced a high number of households being deprived of access to water due to payment default. The dynamics of this period show that the core issue underlying the recognition of a HRtW still remains in Portugal.

This paper systematically reviews existing United States-based water insecurity literature with the goal of understanding the evidence base for developing public health water insecurity intervention strategies in Oregon. The authors conducted the systematic literature review using an adjusted PRISMA reporting checklist to document the review process. Results find 11 public health-related water insecurity interventions including surveillance practices and indicator and policy development. Research on water insecurity health impacts and solutions is still an emerging field. Nevertheless, state agencies perceive a risk to communities from inadequate safe water and are taking steps to assess and reduce these risks. From the review, strategies include improving water affordability, carrying out community education events, documenting drought risk and water loss, and tracking improvements in safe drinking water compliance. The review finds opportunities to take varied approaches that are community-specific, partnership-based and culturally relevant. Recommendations for Oregon include characterizing communities experiencing water insecurity, assessing community needs, tracking regional water scarcity and recognizing the human right to water in Oregon.

This article analyses international law regarding the human right to water as it impacts people who are stateless, displaced, and/or residents of armed conflict zones in the contemporary Middle East. Deficiencies in international law, including humanitarian, water, human rights, and criminal law, are examined to demonstrate international law&rsquo, s strengths and weaknesses for functioning as a guarantor of essential rights for vulnerable groups already facing challenges resulting from ambiguous legal statuses. What are the political factors causing lack of water access, and what international legal protections exist to protect vulnerable groups when affected by water denial? The analysis is framed by Hannah Arendt&rsquo, s assertion that loss of citizenship in a sovereign state leaves people lacking &ldquo, the right to have rights&rdquo, as human rights are inextricably connected to civil rights. This article demonstrates that stateless/displaced persons and armed conflict zone residents are disproportionately impacted by lack of water, yet uniquely vulnerable under international law. This paper offers unprecedented analysis of international criminal law&rsquo, s role in grappling with water access restrictions. I challenge existing &ldquo, water wars&rdquo, arguments, instead proposing remedies for international law&rsquo, s struggle to guarantee the human right to water for refugees/internally displaced persons (IDPs). Examples include Israel/Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. A key original contribution is the application of Arendt&rsquo, s theory of the totalising impacts of human rights violations to cases of water access denial, arguing that these scenarios are examples of environmental injustice that restrict vulnerable persons&rsquo, abilities to access their human rights.

Water is becoming increasingly scarce. Unequal geographic distribution of freshwater resources puts populations in certain regions at risk. Legal development has been responding to this human vulnerability. The human right to water is receiving increasing recognition. Along with growing recognition of the right to water comes the identification of clear legal contours of State obligations with respect to water availability, access and supply, as well as with respect to protection of these individual water rights. Questions remain however as to whether there exist obligations between States to overcome the international imbalance in water distribution. Recent instruments of transboundary water law have introduced new levels of protection of vital human water needs. But are “water-rich” States under any legal obligation to provide the resource to “water-poor” States? This paper explores the question from the perspective of international water law as well as with respect to human rights law.

Resumo O uso inadequado dos recursos hídricos em algumas regiões do planeta, somado ao efeito trazido pelas mudanças climáticas, tem ocasionado períodos de seca e, consequentemente, a indisponibilidade hídrica levando à escassez. Considerando que a água é necessária para sobrevivência humana na Terra, os Estados devem garantir o acesso à água de qualidade para sua população. No entanto, essa garantia nem sempre é possível quando se percebe a má gestão dos recursos hídricos em alguns países. Essa é a questão discutida neste trabalho, que adota a abordagem dedutiva e a técnica bibliográfica e documental. Abstract The inadequate use of the water resources in some regions of the planet added to the effect brought by the climatic changes has caused periods of drought and consequently the water unavailability leading to the scarcity. Considering that water is necessary for human survival on Earth, States must guarantee access to quality water for their population. However, this guarantee is not always possible when the poor management of water resources is perceived in some countries. This is the issue faced by this work that adopts the deductive approach and the bibliographical and documentary technique.

El derecho humano al agua debe contribuir a un cambio en la gestión y gobernanza del agua, principalmente en contextos como el colombiano, vulnerable al cambio climático y con altos índices de pobreza y conflictividad. Frente al tema, académicos y movimientos sociales han propuesto nuevas formas de abordar el contenido y alcance del derecho humano al agua que van desde la valoración de su carácter colectivo y común hasta democratización de la gestión del agua y las reflexiones sobre los derechos de la naturaleza. Este artículo tiene como objetivo central caracterizar algunos de esos nuevos enfoques del derecho humano al agua, analizar su reconocimiento y garantía en Colombia y con base en ello proponer un contenido normativo que permita integrar este derecho en la gestión de cuencas hidrográficas. Finalmente, concluye la importancia de reconocer el derecho humano al agua en la ordenación y manejo de cuencas, teniendo como base los criterios de gobernanza, gobernabilidad y soberanía. The human right to water should contribute to changing the management and governance of water, particularly in the Colombian context due to the vulnerability to climate change and the high rates of poverty and violence. Facing these issues, academics and social movements have proposed new ways of addressing the content and scope of the human right to water, ranging from its collective and common nature to the democratization of water management and reflections on the rights of nature. The main objective of this article is to characterize some of these new approaches to the human right to water, and also analyzing their recognition and guarantee in the Colombian legal system. According to this, a normative content that allows this right to be integrated in the management of watersheds is proposed. The conclusions highlight the importance of recognizing the human right to water in the management of watersheds, based on the criteria of governance, governability and sovereignty.

In 2008, the government of the Popular Party in the Community of Madrid announced its intention to privatize the Canal de Isabel II, a public company responsible for bulk water supply and wastewater treatment services in the Region, despite its highly satisfactory technical, social and economic results. The citizens’ response to this decision was immediately articulated through a Platform against the Privatization of the Canal de Isabel II, which organized its activity around three fundamental axes: denunciation and mobilization, citizen incidence, and political and institutional incidence. Although initially the Platform focused on the defence of public ownership of the Canal, as the process moved on it started to develop a proposal for a management model that is 100 percent public, participatory, consistent with the human right to water, transparent and accountable. This issue has been published as Volume 5, Number 1 of the WATERLAT-GOBACIT Working Papers (http://waterlat.org/publications/working-papers-series/). This is a special series of the Working Papers, titled “The struggle for democracy in Spain: grassroots initiatives to defend essential water services as a common good”, José Esteban Castro (Ed.), Edurne Bagué (Org.).

Since the recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation by the United Nations in 2010, processes and debates have emerged regarding its effective implementation on an international, European and Spanish scale. Without doubt, the expression Human Right to Water is a key point of reference in debates about the management of urban water supply and sanitation services. However, the interpretations about the meaning of this Right are often excessively simplistic. On the contrary, the initiative promoted in Spain by various social groups and the Association of Public Operators of Water Supply and Sanitation Services (AEOPAS), called the Social Pact for Public Water, has moved in a different and enriching direction. This article presents a comparative analysis of the main aspects and implications of the notion of Human Right to Water approved by the United Nations and the Social Pact for Public Water developed in Spain. This issue has been published as Volume 5, Number 1 of the WATERLAT-GOBACIT Working Papers (http://waterlat.org/publications/working-papers-series/). This is a special series of the Working Papers, titled “The struggle for democracy in Spain: grassroots initiatives to defend essential water services as a common good”, José Esteban Castro (Ed.), Edurne Bagué (Org.).

This issue is part of the activities of the WATERLAT-GOBACIT Network’s Thematic Area 3 (TA3), the Urban Water Cycle and Essential Public Services (http://waterlat.org/ thematic-areas/ta3/). TA3 brings together academics, students, professionals working in the public sector, practitioners from Non-Governmental Organizations, activists and members of civil society groups, and representatives of communities and users of public services, among others. The remit of this TA is broad, as the name suggests, but it has a strong focus on the political ecology of urban water, with emphasis on the politics of essential water services. Key issues addressed within this framework have been the neoliberalization of water services, social struggles against privatization and mercantilization of these services, the politics of public policy and management in the sector, water inequality and injustice in urban areas, and the contradictions and conflicts surrounding the status of water and water services as a public good, as a common good, as a commodity, as a citizenship right, and more recently, as a human right. The publication is a contribution of the Network within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement with the Public Services International (PSI) on issues of common interest (http://waterlat.org/projects/cooperation-agreement-with-the-psi/). In this case, the special issue is the outcome of the work of a member of our team of postgraduate students, Edurne Bagué, who is a native from Catalonia and is currently completing a PhD at the Centre for Higher Research and Studies on Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico City. Her research focuses on the grassroots mobilization that has been taking place in the city of Terrasa, Catalonia, seeking to end a 75-year history of privatized water supply and “remunicipalize” the service. As discussed below in relation to Article 6, Terrasa Municipality finally decided to take back the water services into public hands on 22 March 2018, as we were finishing the publication of this issue. The case of Terrasa is part of anationwide processin Spain, whereby widespread mobilizations to oppose further privatizations of water services and to bring back under public control those systems that had been privatized have been taking place over the last decade. In TA3 we thought that producing a special issue of the Working Papers dedicated to this process could be an important contribution to the international debate, fostering further exchange of knowledge and experience on this urgent matter. I dared to propose Edurne Bagué to take responsibility for the organization of this issue, and I am glad that she accepted the challenge and brought it to fruition. I am sure that it will be received as a welcome contribution to the ongoing debates. The issue has 6 articles, authored by academics, postgraduate students, practitioners, municipal officers, among other, all of them involved in diverse ways with the social organizations participating in the campaigns.

El presente estudio se concentra en el reconocimiento de esfuerzos colectivos que desarrollan las comunidades para acceder al agua potable con una gestión del recurso hídrico de forma colectiva, desde una perspectiva incluyente, solidaria y democrática, para así fortalecer los procesos de identidad cultural y apropiación territorial. En la zona rural de Bogotá se evidencian los aportes de la gobernanza del agua a partir de la creación de asociaciones de acueductos comunitarios quienes, mediante la autogestión, permiten captar, almacenar y distribuir agua a la comunidad para la satisfacción de sus necesidades básicas. La implementación de acueductos comunitarios comprende dentro de sus objetivos el mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida de la población rural y fortalecimiento de las formas de vida campesina. Estas formas de organización comunitaria relacionan el agua como un bien colectivo y público que debe ser usado de manera eficiente, procurando un acceso igualitario y considerándolo como elemento fundamental de vida. The present study is focused on the recognition of collective efforts developed by local communities in order to access to potable water, from the hydric resource management in a collective form, with an inclusive, solidary and democratic perspective, strengthening cultural identity and territorial appropriation processes. In the rural area of Bogotá, it is evidenced the contributions of water governance from the creation of community aqueducts associations, who, through self-management, enable the capture, storage, and distribution of water for the community to supply its basic needs. The communitarian aqueducts implementation comprises within its objectives, the improvement of quality life of rural populations and the strengthening of peasant ways of life. These forms of communitarian organization relate the water as a collective and public good, which must be used efficiently, attempting to an egalitarian access, and considering it as a fundamental life element.The present study is focused on the recognition of collective efforts developed by local communities in order to access to potable water, from the hydric resource management in a collective form, with an inclusive, solidary and democratic perspective, strengthening cultural identity and territorial appropriation processes. In the rural area of Bogotá, it is evidenced the contributions of water governance from the creation of community aqueducts associations, who, through self-management, enable the capture, storage, and distribution of water for the community to supply its basic needs. The communitarian aqueducts implementation comprises within its objectives, the improvement of quality life of rural populations and the strengthening of peasant ways of life. These forms of communitarian organization relate the water as a collective and public good, which must be used efficiently, attempting to an egalitarian access, and considering it as a fundamental life element. Magíster en Gestión Ambiental Maestría