About Waterlex

Welcome to WATERLEX, a searchable database established by specialist legal experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The database should be of use to anyone who wants to know more about the legislative and regulatory framework for water resources in the countries featured in WATERLEX.

WATERLEX carries the analyses of the legal framework governing water resources in selected countries. The analyses reflect a consistent model, canvassing most of the features of a country’s legal framework on water resources by reference to four major subjects (Legal basis, Administration, Water management and Pollution control). The information provided includes, for example, whether there is a basic water law in the country; what kinds of water it covers; who owns water; who is authorized to use water and how; whether and how pollution is controlled; and the main features of the government’s water resources administration.

WATERLEX can be used to examine the national legislation on water resources of any particular country or across any number of countries, comparing one or more features of the country’s or countries’ national legislation on water resources. WATERLEX can also be searched by region. Where possible, access to the text of the legislation being analysed is provided, through a link to FAO’s own database of national legislation on natural resources, FAOLEX.