This document presents the Recommendation of the OECD Council on Water (hereafter the Recommendation). The Recommendation forms a concise and coherent legal instrument providing high-level policy guidance on a range of topics relevant for water resources management and the delivery of water services: managing water quantity; improving water quality; managing water risks and disasters; ensuring good water governance; and ensuring sustainable finance, investment and pricing for water and water services. The Recommendation was adopted on 13 December 2016, after a 2-year consultation process, which involved a range of OECD Committees and partner institutions and networks including: the Environment Policy Committee, the Committee for Agriculture, the Regional Development Policy Committee, the Regulatory Policy Committee and the Development Assistance Committee. It also reflects comments received through a round of public consultation organised in April 2016 and undertaken with the Business and Industry Advisory Committee, the Trade Union Advisory Committee, the European Environmental Bureau and the OECD Water Governance Initiative. More information about the process and comments received through public consultation are available on the OECD Water webpage (www.oecd.org/water)