Although there is extensive international research on the illegal use of natural resources, research on illegal water uses is very limited and takes place almost exclusively in countries that often suffer from water scarcity (e.g. Australia or Spain) or countries of the Global South where there are fundamental limitations in state governance and water supply and sanitation infrastructure. A review or meta-study of previous research on illegal water use in countries of the Global North has not yet been published. Available research is usually conducted from a specific expert perspective, while interdisciplinary approaches to research on illegal water use are rare.
Yet, an interdisciplinary approach to the topic is necessary in order to better understand the often interlinked hydrological, ecological, political and ethical causes or effects of illegal use and to draw conclusions for the practical application of the findings in cases of conflict.
