The Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers is an international guideline regulating how rivers and their connected groundwaters that cross national boundaries may be used
It was adopted by the International Law Association (ILA) in Helsinki, Finland in August 1966
It led to the creation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses
It is applicable to all drainage basins that cross national boundaries, except where other agreement between bordering nations exists
In spite of its adoption by the ILA, there is no mechanism in place that enforces the rules
In 2004, it was superseded by the Berlin Rules on Water Resources
