Priority of Uses in International Water Law

The raison d’être of international water law is that it provides States with a toolkit to equip them deal complex problems relating the joint use and sustainable management transboundary freshwater resources. principle equitable reasonable utilization one such tool in this toolkit. When applying specific watercourse, sharing watercourse must decide which uses are more important than others. But general rule no takes priori priority over others (this so-called no-inherent-priority rule). This paper examines three ways can be relativized, by recognizing certain degree categories uses. Based on an assessment previous State practice, suggested (1) existing enjoy new uses; (2) beneficial greater number people less damaging other ecosystems, priority; (3) immediately satisfy vital human needs priority. need some guidance identifying normally take defined circumstances, guidance, thereby making effective. derogate from these rules if circumstances so require; they are, course, not legally binding them.