Negative consequences of water resources use arise not so much from the unstable structure of production and consumption, which demonstrates the priority of economic interests of society over environmental ones, as from the imperfection of water legislation. In fact, humanity itself, which is now on the verge of ecological catastrophe, will depend on how efficiently water use will be carried out. Development of the country's economy is unthinkable without a healthy state of water resources and water management. Such a state cannot be achieved without effective legal support. Under the conditions of growing water crisis, the issues of effective and competent legal regulation of relations on water use are more urgent and significant than ever, which determines the choice of the topic for research within the framework of this paper.