Water democracy under European Union law: Requiring participatory services management.

The current global water crisis is seriously challenging the water management, requiring an extensive sweeping adaptation for consumption and production patterns. Several international organisations recommend addressing water crisis through effective participatory practices. Taking into account the notion of environmental democracy and the legal implications of the right to water, this paper questions the public participation in the water services management in the European Union. Supervisor entities' cases are examined, and the idea of a participatory comanagement model is proposed. The aim is to clarify the legal foundations of water democracy, by suggesting possible solutions to support an increased public engagement. • Autonomy of the water democracy from cost-benefit analysis. • Right to water as fundamental basis of the water democracy notion. • Supervisor entities as inefficient implementation of the water democracy notion. • Direct participation in water services as optimum in water conflicts situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]