Shared Use of Transboundary Water Resources

Abstract

The sharing of water resources between separate political entities is a significant source of conflict. Resolution of these conflicts in the United States has occured through a variety of mechanisms, ranging from physical warfare to Supreme Court adjudication to written agreement. This latter has been the preferred mechanism, primarily becoause it offers a large degree of certainty and a limited degree of risk. Unfortunately, the number, style and content of these various written agreements have left their own degree of uncertainty because there has been no consistency to these agreements. The American Society of Civil Engineers has recognized this shortfall and has instituted a process to standardize the shared use of transboundary water resources both in the United States and in the international community.