Obligations arising from the right to water in Finland and South Africa

While the right to water is recognized as a human right, its precise legal implications remain unclear. This article discusses obligations related to the right to water in the constitutional contexts of Finland and South Africa by using a specific framework of obligations. It argues that the right to water first and foremost obligates public authorities to realize the right as best they can and not to lower the level achieved. Despite different legal systems, cultures, levels of development and contexts, the right to water can be sufficiently realized in various ways unique to a specific country. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.