Decentralization is a process by which certain public powers are transferred, as a rule, from the central government to territorially lower units of government (regional or local levels of government), which then gives some autonomy in exercising the powers delegated to them. There are several types of decentralization that are more or less suitable for use in various departments and public services. Decentralization in the field of water management is a very demanding and time-consuming process due to the importance of water as an indispensable resource needed by all living beings for survival, which requires careful and rational management of this department. In the Republic of Croatia, water management is carried out at the central, regional and local levels. The most important legal act that defines and determines the management of the water sector is the Water Act NN 66/2019, 84/2021. Most of the work is done at the central level, while the lower levels are assigned the obligation of water supply and drainage of drinking water to the inhabitants of the Republic. Denmark manages water at the central and local levels, while the regional level has no obligations in this area. It has implemented the decentralization of water management, which is left to the management of local self-government units (municipalities) and private cooperatives of users that receive a license to deliver the service from local units. Italy, like the Republic of Croatia, implements water management at the central, regional and local levels. Italy is specific in that water management in different regions is not the same, but the regions themselves choose the method of management, and the method of water supply and drainage of drinking water to users, and then delegate selected methods to local governments (provinces and municipalities). Following all the above, it is concluded that all three countries have implemented decentralization of water to some extent.