Changing principles of international water law in Central Asia: Addressing the crisis, from customary practice to virtual water footprints

Download
2019-6
Arynova, Aigul
Laws regulating transboundary water allocation in Central Asia discriminate water interests of upperstream states and contribute to the excessive water use by downstream states. The present research studies water conflict in Central Asia emphasizing the changing impacts of international water law and its cardinal principle, the equitable and reasonable utilization (ERU). A review of the main water regime which had developed in Central Asia including agreements signed following the USSR’s collapse is conducted. This allows questions to be asked about the impact and effectiveness of international water law and the ERU principle in the regional water allocation scheme. The results reveal that current water sharing does not recognize the ERU principle and is discriminatory towards upperstream states. In order to offer solutions for developing upperstream states, this paper recognizes that multifactor standard of the ERU, as well as countermeasures and foreclosure of future use principles set ground for just water sharing. Additionally though, adopting and elaborating concepts crucial to the new sustainability discourse – especially the concepts of water footprint and virtual water – it will be shown how the current regime by allowing wasteful water use, permissively contributes to the regional water crisis. This is demonstrated through a review of water footprints on agricultural production in the region. It is recommended that further research is carried out on integration of the ERU principle to the water allocation laws of Central Asia, particularly on the penalization of wasteful water use and adoption of interdisciplinary concepts and regulation across the region.

Suggestions

Rehabilitation of water supply systems
Toğrul, Nevzat; Merzi, Nuri; Department of Civil Engineering (2015)
Management of water supply systems by an economic and efficient way is a significant issue for water authorities. Selection and operation of water supply elements appropriately to satisfy water need affects the energy consumption of the system. This study aims to constitute a long term rehabilitation plan for water supply elements (only storage tanks, pumps and transmission line pipes are in the scope of the study). A case study has been performed on N8.3 pressure zone of Ankara water distribution network. ...
Development of a methodology for identification and control of the chemicals of the greatest concern: Yeşilirmak River Basin case study
Küçük, Elif; Yetiş, Ükü; Department of Environmental Engineering (2018)
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) aims to achieve good water status of surface water and groundwaters. For the purpose of evaluating chemical status, the Member States are required to monitor 45 priority substances in water bodies. To ensure good ecological status, the WFD requires the Member States to identify “river basin specific pollutants” and establish the environmental quality standards for these pollutants. In accordance with the WFD, main objectives of this study are to find out t...
Diverging Water Management Paradigms between Turkey and the European Union
Kibaroğlu, Ayşegül; SÜMER, VAKUR (Informa UK Limited, 2007-01-01)
Since the early 1990s, the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach has been championed and adopted by some of the industrialized states. The present paper analyzes the IWRM approach through an historical narrative while emphasizing divergences in the priorities and requirements of the developing and developed countries. Then, the paper examines water resources management in Turkey taking into consideration the political and economic structure of the country. Turkey, being the accession country...
Implementation of the European Union's Bathing Water Directive in Turkey
Yukseler, Hande; Girgin, Serkan; Yetiş, Ülkü; Valatka, Simonas; Semeniene, Daiva; Kerestecioglu, Merih; Jacobsen, Michael (Elsevier BV, 2009-06-01)
The European Union (EU) Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) sets out standards for designated bathing waters which should be complied with by all Member States. Turkey, being a candidate country to the EU, requires heavy-cost investments in achieving approximation with the EU Environmental Acquis. This paper provides a description of the technical measures and investment and operational cost assessment related to the implementation of the Bathing Water Directive in Turkey. Bathing waters are defined as "all...
Chance constrained optimization of booster disinfection in water distribution networks
Köker, Ezgi; Altan Sakarya, Ayşe Burcu; Department of Civil Engineering (2011)
Quality of municipal water is sustained by addition of disinfectant, generally chlorine, to the water distribution network. Because of health problems, chlorine concentration in the network is limited between maximum and minimum limits. Cancerogenic disinfectant by-products start to occur at high concentrations so it is desired to have minimum amount of chlorine without violating the limit. In addition to the health issues, minimum injection amount is favorable concerning cost. Hence, an optimization model ...
Citation Formats
A. Arynova, “Changing principles of international water law in Central Asia: Addressing the crisis, from customary practice to virtual water footprints,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2019.