Biodiversity, water and natural resource management
Water Resources Allocation
Sharing Risks and Opportunities
Water resources allocation determines who is able to use water resources, how, when
and where. It directly affects the value (economic, ecological, socio-cultural) that
individuals and society obtain from water resources. This report overviews how allocation
works in a range of countries and how the performance of allocation arrangements can
be improved to adjust to changing conditions.
Capturing information from 27 OECD countries and key partner economies, the report
presents key findings from the OECD Survey of Water Resources Allocation and case
studies of successful allocation reform. It provides practical policy guidance for
water allocation in the form of a "health check", which can be used to assess the
performance of current arrangements and manage the transition to improved regimes.
"Growing pressures are making existing inefficiencies in water allocation regimes increasingly costly: 19th century allocation arrangements are poorly equipped to serve a 21st century society and economy. Although reforming water allocation may appear daunting, an improved regime can greatly increase the value that individuals and society obtain from water resources today and in the future." Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General.